[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 10, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H4792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Norwood). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Menendez] is recognized for 5 
minutes.

  [Mr. MENENDEZ addressed the House. His remarks will appear hereafter 
in the Extension of Remarks.]
                              {time}  2230

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Hilliard] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to discuss what occurred in 
my congressional district 30 years ago this week. During that time in 
Selma, AL, a young black man named Jimmy Lee Jackson was murdered 
because he dared to stand up against the multitudes of racial 
injustices, from white-only water fountains to the States-rights stand 
which would not allow blacks to vote.
  Fortunately, Jimmy Lee Jackson's murder in 1965 was not in vain. It 
prompted the historic 54 mile Selma to Montgomery voting rights march, 
which was the catalyst for the 1965 Voting Rights Act. This act secured 
the rights of all Americans to participate, without harassment, in the 
political system.
  Today, we again have challenges before us which threaten the basic 
rights of many Americans. The so-called Republican Contract With 
America threatens to take away many rights which we, as Americans, hold 
dear.
  I am speaking of the right to have proper medical care, the right to 
proper nutrition, the right to a good education, and the right to be 
treated equally and fairly under the law.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope and pray that it does not take a murder like 
Jimmy Lee Jackson's, which occurred over 30 years ago in Selma, to wake 
up America to action.


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