[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 77 (Monday, June 15, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6323-S6324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CONDEMNATION THE BRUTAL KILLING OF JAMES BYRD, JR.

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 248, which was 
submitted earlier today by myself and Senator Gramm and Senator 
Moseley-Braun.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Frist). The clerk will report the 
resolution.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 248) condemning the brutal killing of 
     Mr. James Byrd, Jr., and commend the community of Jasper, TX, 
     for the manner in which it has come together in response.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I want to read the resolution because 
I think the Senate is taking a step that is very important, and I want 
to speak for a few minutes on the great honor I had this weekend to 
attend the services for one of my constituents, Mr. James Byrd, Jr.
  The resolution condemns the brutal killing of Mr. James Byrd Jr., and 
it commends the community of Jasper, TX, and Jasper County, TX, for the 
manner in which it has come together in response to this brutal 
killing.
  The findings are as follows:
  Mr. James Byrd, Jr., of Jasper, TX, was brutally murdered on June 6, 
1998.
  Since this heinous tragedy, the citizens of Jasper, from all segments 
of the community, have come together to condemn the killing and honor 
the memory of Mr. Byrd.
  The sheriff of Jasper County, Billy Rowles, spoke for the community 
when he appealed that the Nation not ``label us because of this random, 
brutal act.''
  Mr. and Mrs. James Byrd, Sr., called for ``justice and peace,'' 
asking that ``we * * * get this over and put it behind us.''
  The community's response reflects the spirit that other communities 
across the Nation have shown in the face of recent incidents of random 
and senseless violence.
  The Senate condemns the actions which occurred in Jasper, TX, as 
horrific and intolerable, to be rejected by all Americans.
  The Senate expresses its deepest condolences to the Byrd family for 
their loss and the pain it caused.
  The Senate notes the strong religious faith of the Byrd family, under 
the inspired leadership of James, Sr., and Stella Byrd, and the 
Reverend Kenneth Lyons, Pastor of the Greater New Bethel Baptist 
Church, that has helped the family through this most trying time.
  The Senate sees in the Byrd family reaction to this tragedy the 
inspiration for hope, peace and justice in Jasper and throughout the 
United States.
  The Senate commends the leadership shown by Jasper County sheriff, 
Billy Rowles, City of Jasper Mayor R.C. Horn, and other community 
leaders in responding to this tragedy.

[[Page S6324]]

  The Senate urges that law enforcement officials at all appropriate 
levels continue with the full and fair investigation into all of the 
facts of this case.
  The Senate urges prosecutors to proceed with a fair and speedy trial 
to bring the perpetrators of this outrageous crime to justice.
  Mr. President, I had an experience that I will never forget this 
weekend when I attended the funeral service for Mr. Byrd. I saw a 
community coming together in confronting a tragedy that was unspeakable 
and yet they handled it in a way in which I think all of us could 
learn. They said unanimously in that little community, ``There is no 
hate here; there is only love.''
  I want to say that the Byrd family reminds me of something that 
Senator Gramm has said before, and that is the greatness of our country 
is that ordinary people do extraordinary things. I have seen the spirit 
of America in Mr. and Mrs. James Byrd, Sr., in James Byrd, Jr.'s 
sisters, and in his children. They endure the pain of knowing how their 
loved one died and yet can say to all the world, ``There is no hate 
here, there is no hate in our home, there is no hate in our church; 
there is love.''
  I walked through that church and I saw a woman who goes to that 
church every Sunday. She had on four yellow ribbons. The yellow ribbons 
were displayed all over the community of Jasper, showing that the 
community was coming together in memory of James Byrd, Jr. This woman 
had on four ribbons, and she knew James Byrd, Jr. She said, ``I have 
four ribbons. I have one ribbon for James Byrd, Jr., and I have three 
ribbons for the three who are accused of killing him.'' That said 
everything about the way this community is handling this terrible 
tragedy.
  I think the leadership that is given to us by the Byrd family, by 
Mayor Horn, by Sheriff Rowles, and by Rev. Kenneth Lyons is something 
that all of us will be able to say has enriched us. I was enriched this 
weekend by seeing that community. I was enriched when Sheriff Rowles 
told me that he was trying to make sure that everyone stayed together, 
that everyone had their say, and he was even giving the same courtesy 
and respect even to the Black Panthers who came and did not talk about 
unity at all. Nevertheless, Sheriff Rowles recognized their freedom of 
speech. I saw a community that said we are proud that we have been able 
to grow up in loving homes with Christian backgrounds.
  So I think that Abraham Lincoln's call to the ``better angels of our 
nature'' was personified by the Byrd family during this past week. All 
of us are better because we have seen the Byrd family endure a tragedy 
that we pray none of us will ever have to endure, and we saw them rise 
above it and counsel justice and prayer, not hate and despair.
  It is their leadership that will make me a follower, and I hope all 
Americans will follow their message--that love is what is important for 
our country, not hate.
  So I commend them, and that is why I introduced this resolution with 
Senator Gramm tonight and why the Senate is, I hope, going to 
unanimously pass this resolution in just a few minutes, because I want 
to follow the Byrd family's example and talk about love, not hate; 
prayer, not despair. That is how we can come together as a country and 
learn from the worst of tragedies, and, by the very nature of its 
horror, resolve that we are going to fight harder for equality and 
justice in this country for our children and grandchildren.
  That will be the memory of James Byrd, Jr., that we will all come out 
of this stronger because of the horror that he endured.
  I also want to say that the Reverend Jesse Jackson was a healer this 
week, that Kweisi Mfume was a healer this week, that Rodney Slater, 
representing the President of the United States, was a healer this 
week, that Congresswoman Maxine Waters was a healer this week. All of 
them came together with the same message that the Byrd family gave to 
us. And I was touched by what I saw in Jasper, TX, this week. I think 
we will all be better because of the leadership of the Byrd family of 
Jasper, TX.

  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that S. Res. 248 be agreed to, 
the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 248) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 248

       Whereas, Mr. James Byrd, Jr., of Jasper, Texas, was 
     brutally murdered on June 6, 1998;
       Whereas, since this heinous tragedy, the citizens of 
     Jasper, from all segments of the community, have come 
     together to condemn the killing and honor the memory of Mr. 
     Byrd.
       Whereas, the Sheriff of Jasper County, Billy Rowles, spoke 
     for the community when he appealed that the nation not 
     ``label us because of this random, brutal act.''
       Whereas, Mr. and Mrs. James Byrd, Sr., called for ``justice 
     and peace,'' asking that ``we . . . get this over and put 
     this behind us.''; and
       Whereas, the community's response reflects the spirit that 
     other communities across the nation have shown in the face of 
     recent incidents of random and senseless violence. Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That The Senate--
       (1) condemns the actions which occurred in Jasper, Texas as 
     horrific and intolerable, to be rejected by all Americans;
       (2) expresses its deepest condolences to the Byrd family 
     for their loss and the pain it caused;
       (3) notes the strong religious faith of the Byrd family, 
     under the inspired leadership of James Sr., and Stella Byrd, 
     and the Reverend Kenneth Lyons, Pastor of the Greater New 
     Bethel Baptist Church, that has helped the family through 
     this most trying time;
       (4) sees in the Byrd family reaction to this tragedy the 
     inspiration for hope, peace, and justice in Jasper and 
     throughout the United States;
       (5) commends the leadership shown by Jasper County Sheriff 
     Billy Rowles, City of Jasper Mayor R.C. Horn, and other 
     community leaders in responding to this tragedy;
       (6) urges that law enforcement officials at all appropriate 
     levels continue with the full and fair investigation into all 
     of the facts of the case; and
       (7) urges prosecutors to proceed with a fair and speedy 
     trial to bring the perpetrators of this outrageous crime to 
     justice.

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. GORTON addressed the Chair.

                          ____________________