[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 80 (Wednesday, June 22, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           FREEDOM SUMMER DAY

  Mr. NUNN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 231, a resolution 
submitted earlier today by Senators Wofford and Simpson relating to 
Freedom Summer Day; that the resolution and preamble be agreed to; that 
the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc; further, that 
any statements on this measure appear in the Record at the appropriate 
place as though read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  So the resolution (S. Res. 231) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                              S. Res. 231

       Whereas on June 21, 1964, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and 
     Michael Schwerner gave their lives at a young age in an 
     effort to guarantee the rights that are the birthright of 
     every citizen of the United States, particularly the right to 
     vote;
       Whereas James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner 
     were part of a movement that helped to achieve the passage of 
     the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, 
     and other milestones in the progress of this Nation toward 
     achieving the goal of ensuring equal rights, equal 
     opportunities, and equal justice for all;
       Whereas during the 30 years after the deaths of James 
     Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, this Nation 
     has benefited tremendously from the removal of many barriers 
     to full participation and by every citizen of this Nation in 
     political, educational, and economic life;
       Whereas the lives and deaths of James Chaney, Andrew 
     Goodman, and Michael Schwerner have come to symbolize the 
     dream of brotherhood among citizens of this Nation from all 
     races, religions, and ethnic backgrounds and serve to inspire 
     all citizens--in particular young citizens--to be dedicated 
     to the ideals of justice, equality, citizenship, and 
     community;
       Whereas the lifework of these men and thousands of other 
     young students who participated in the Freedom Summer remains 
     unfinished until all barriers are removed that bar the full 
     participation of every citizen of this Nation in the 
     democratic process of this Nation, especially the electoral 
     process; and
       Whereas the Nation continues to need the leadership and 
     involvement of all its citizens, in particular the young, in 
     solving problems in their communities and improving the lives 
     of those in need: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That--
       (1) June 21, 1994, is designated as Freedom Summer Day;
       (2) the Senate expresses the importance of citizens--
     regardless of party, ideology, age, race, creed, and 
     socioeconomic status--working to improve this Nation and 
     address issues most critical to their communities;
       (3) it is the sense of the Senate that the Voting Rights 
     Act of 1965 has helped to fulfill the promise of democracy in 
     this Nation; and
       (4) the Senate reaffirms the goals of removing remaining 
     barriers to full voter participation in this Nation.

  Mr. WOFFORD. Madam President, 30 years ago today, James Chaney, 
Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner gave their lives trying to help 
America live up to its promise, trying to guarantee equal rights, equal 
opportunities and equal justice for all.
  The brutal murders of these young men shocked the Nation and seared 
our collective conscience. Along with hundreds of other committed men 
and women, Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner went down to Mississippi 30 
years ago this summer as part of a national movement which led to the 
passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 
1965.
  I am pleased to join with my good friend, the distinguished Senator 
from Wyoming, Alan Simpson, in introducing this resolution. And I thank 
my friend from the Civil Rights Movement and of the Selma March, 
Representative John Lewis and also Representative Filner, a participant 
in Freedom Summer 1964, who have introduced a similar resolution under 
consideration today in the House.
  As we rise to commemorate the lives of these young men whose tragic 
deaths have become symbols and milestones of America's struggle to give 
flesh to its noble principles, I am reminded of Lincoln's words at 
Gettysburg, PA:

       It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to 
     the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far 
     so nobly advanced. It is for us to be here dedicated to the 
     great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead 
     we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave 
     the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly 
     resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that 
     this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; 
     and that government of the people, by the people, for the 
     people, shall not perish from the earth.

  Today, we must honor James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael 
Schwerner by reaffirming our commitment to the purposes and ideals for 
which they paid the last full measure of devotion. We owe it to them to 
ensure that citizenship isn't just about rights that are owed but also 
includes responsibilities for striving to make this Nation a better 
place and working for the common good.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Madam President, I join my colleague from Pennsylvania 
in sponsoring this resolution designating today as ``Freedom Summer 
Day.'' Today marks the 30th anniversary of the murder of three young 
civil rights workers--James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael 
Schwerner.
  These men were part of a national civil rights movement which led to 
the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act 
of 1965.
  This day should be dedicated to the ideals of justice, equality, 
citizenship, and community in memory of these young civil rights 
activists.
  I thank my colleague for his leadership on this resolution.
  Mr. RIEGLE. Madam President, yesterday an anniversary passed with 
relatively little attention or fanfare. But for those of us who lived 
through it 30 years ago, we were reminded at once of how high a price 
we have paid for freedom in this country.
  On June 21, 1964, civil rights workers Michael H. Schwerner, Andrew 
Goodman, and James E. Chaney disappeared in Philadelphia, MS. Schwerner 
and Goodman, two young white men from New York, went to Mississippi and 
met James Chaney for one simple reason: they believed that all 
Americans, regardless of their race, should have the right to register 
to vote. And so they had volunteered to travel to Mississippi to help 
register black voters. Their bodies were found six weeks later in an 
earthen dam. For them, the price for freedom and voting rights was 
supreme. And if we do not continue to address the same prejudice and 
turmoil that still exists in our society today, then the price for our 
communities may also be supreme.
  We passed a resolution yesterday, commemorating the Freedom Summer of 
1964. And in recognizing what that event meant in the history of the 
civil rights movement, we should also take a moment to assess whether 
we have really achieved the goals we set for ourselves.
  Dr. Martin Luther King spoke of a future where all people would be 
judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their 
character--clearly, that day is still far ahead of us. Extremists from 
all sides still spew the politics of hate, pitting color against color, 
race against race, religion against religion--and yet we can look back 
at Freedom Summer when people of all colors, and faiths, stood shoulder 
to shoulder in battling the racism and violence in Mississippi. 
Together, they managed to rivet public attention on the virulent hatred 
and bureaucratic racism existent in Mississippi in 1964. And because of 
their cooperation and their sacrifices, the Voting Rights Act was 
passed the following year, virtually eliminating systemic 
disenfranchisement.
  I hope that all Americans, particularly those too young to have seen 
Freedom Summer firsthand, will take time to reflect on the status of 
civil rights in our Nation and on the great progress we can make when 
working together toward a common goal.

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