Political Quotes

“I come to the floor to pay tribute to Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney, a civil rights icon from the Pacific Northwest. In August of 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr., inspired the Nation from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial here in Washington, DC, boldly proclaiming: ``Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.'' Meanwhile, in the basement of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Seattle, WA, Dr. Samuel McKinney was already taking up that cause. He stood before his fellow religious leaders--pastors, rabbis, and priests--and asked them to join him in the struggle for equality and justice for all. For more than 40 years, he never gave up the fight, advocating for economic and social justice in Seattle, WA, and throughout our Nation. Refusing to yield to deep-seated prejudice and threats of violence, he became known as a visionary civil rights leader, a pillar of Seattle civic life, and a moral consciousness of our community. Tomorrow, many Washingtonians will come together to celebrate Dr. McKinney's life--to remember his wisdom, his advocacy, his deep and unshakeable belief in justice, his steadfast commitment to his community and his church, his service to our Nation in the U.S. Air Force, and his devotion as a husband, father, and friend. He was a third-generation Baptist minister. He took up the struggle for justice at an early age. He was inspired by the athletic prowess of Jesse Owens and Joe Louis and by civil rights leaders of our generation.…”