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Hello John,
Today, I want to commemorate the civil rights marches that took place in Selma, Alabama, 57 years ago this month. I was born in Selma, so the importance of the civil rights marches is something that will forever be part of my history. It is a reminder that when fighting for civil rights, for voting rights, we should be brave enough to get into some good trouble. In March 1965, a peaceful demonstration, led by the late, great Congressman and my dear friend, John Lewis, demanded an end to the discrimination in voter participation, particularly for Black voters in the South. As the crowd attempted to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge, they were confronted by white Alabama state troopers who violently attacked with billy clubs and tear gas. One week after what is now known as Bloody Sunday, President Lyndon B. Johnson introduced the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to prohibit race-based discrimination in voting. The following week, Martin Luther King Jr. led thousands of peaceful demonstrators from Selma to the steps of the capitol in Montgomery, Alabama. However, the fight for voting rights did not end on that bridge in Selma or the capitol steps in Montgomery or the halls of Congress in Washington, DC. Despite the various civil rights legislation passed since then, the battle for voting rights continues. Today, we are not only honoring the bravery and sacrifice of those who marched on Bloody Sunday, but we recommit to the fight for equal access to the ballot box. In January, after the House moved to pass this crucial piece of legislation, twice, the Senate failed to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. Yet, despite the repeated setbacks, we cannot stop in our work to protect and restore voting rights. We cannot stop because of the people like Congressman John Lewis and those who came before us, who sacrificed and dedicated their lives to secure our fundamental right to vote. Today, on the day the third march to Montgomery began 57 years ago, I thank Congressman Lewis, Dr. King, and the thousands of other civil rights activists who set the standard for us. I can think of no better way to honor their life and legacy than to secure voting rights now, once and for all. Thank you. – Suzan DelBene |
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