Political Quotes

“our Nation owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to all of those who risked their lives in the pursuit of making America a more perfect union. This week, we commemorate the 44th anniversary of the day three brave civil rights workers--James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman--paid the ultimate price in the struggle to secure civil rights and expand our democracy for all Americans. On June 21, 1964, these three young men were abducted, brutally beaten, and shot to death by Ku Klux Klansmen for simply attempting to register African-Americans voters. Their deaths touched the conscience of our country and inspired events that changed the course of our history. The public outcry over the initial disappearance of these workers drew national and international attention to the violence associated with efforts to register African-American voters. It spurred efforts to desegregate the voting delegates at political party conventions. And it served as a catalyst for Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, key legislation that would eliminate segregation and usher in a new era of equal opportunity and access to our democracy for all Americans. Unfortunately, our march toward equal justice under law is not yet complete. Three years ago, Edgar Ray Killen was convicted for the deaths of the three civil rights workers we honor today.”