OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Freedom Riders

Floor Speech

Date: July 15, 2014
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Minors and Children Arts, Entertainment, and History

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Madam Speaker, this summer, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. Passage of this law was the culmination of years of courageous work by a diverse group of men and women who banded together to fight against racism and inequality.

One group, the Freedom Riders, deserves our sincere applause. Starting with a handful of participants, they grew into a national movement, traversing the South, challenging segregation laws.

These brave young souls included many courageous students. Notable among them was our colleague, the Honorable John Lewis, as well as many brothers of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, of which he is a member.

As we honor the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer, as well as Phi Beta Sigma's centennial anniversary, we are reminded that the voices and actions of a few youth today can and will build a better future for all of us tomorrow.

I thank the Freedom Riders for the America they have made better for all of us.


Source
arrow_upward