[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 34 (Thursday, March 23, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E404-E405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING THE MARCH ON SELMA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL P. FORBES

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 23, 2000

  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, it's truly an honor to join those 
distinguished colleagues who traveled to Alabama for the 35th 
anniversary of the March on Selma and to honor the people who struggled 
for so many years to bring equality and civil rights to all Americans.
  This year, my daughter came with me to retrace the steps of the civil 
rights movement. Together, we walked arm in arm over the Edmund Pettus 
Bridge. This is the same bridge where my good friend and colleague, 
Congressmen John Lewis, and others were met by brutal police and 
vicious dogs as they attempted to march from Selma to Montgomery. These 
brave souls prevented from Freedom of Movement by those charged to 
uphold the laws.
  Together, my daughter and I sat in the 16th Street Baptist Church 
where four young innocent girls were kill by a bomb. A bomb thrown out 
of fear and hate, in a sad attempt to frighten and intimidate. These 
four young children doing nothing more than exercising their First 
Amendment right to Freedom of Religion.
  Together, my daughter and I stood in front of a charred bus in which 
young men and women sat as it was set ablaze by people of Birmingham. 
Courageous people, known as the Freedom Riders, who were traveling 
throughout the South protesting segregation laws. Beaten for engaging 
in lawful civil disobedience.
  Together, my daughter and I met so many men and women that fought so 
bravely and proudly and sacrificed themselves for something they 
believed in. We met Fred Shuttlesworth in front of a statue of himself, 
and heard him recount his personal experiences of the movement. We were 
inspired and humbled as he spoke of things he endured.
  We sang spirituals with Bettie Mae Fikes at the Civil Rights 
Memorial--feeling the strength of her voice and emotion. The words 
touching our very souls.
  We listened to the words of Coretta Scott King. We heard of her own 
struggles and those of her husband to ensure dignity and equality for 
all people.
  As we traveled together throughout the South, I looked into my 
daughter's eyes. She is now in college--still though, my little girl. 
And, I knew why these men and women were fighting so hard, so bravely, 
for so long. They were fighting for not just for themselves--but for 
the future. The future of their children. The future of my children--of 
my daughter.
  These men and women of all ages, creeds, and races sacrificed 
themselves in both mind and body. Some of them died merciles deaths at 
the hands of hatred. I pray that those who lost their lives are looking 
down on us today and know that they made the difference. They changed 
direction of this country. They changed the future of this country.
  Thirty-five years ago, black and white children did not go to school 
together. Black men and white men did not use the same water fountain 
or eat at the same restaurant counter.
  Today, Americans are electing people of all races to political 
office, and these men and women are working together to represent 
everyone. But, so much more needs to be done.
  We cannot rest. We cannot stop. We cannot give up until all people, 
of all races, of all faiths are equal.
  To ensure that we do not forget. That we do not stop. We must educate 
our children and our children's children.
  One of the most memorable events during this trip was meeting Mrs. 
Mobley. Mrs.

[[Page E405]]

Mobley was the mother of Emmett Till, the young black man that was 
lynched after being accused of whistling at a white woman. Mrs. Mobley 
said, as she looked at myself and my colleagues, ``I now know why God 
has kept me alive for so long.''
  We, as the generation that took part and remembers the civil right 
movement, have a duty. We must educate our children. Our children, 
black, white, Hispanic, Asian and Native American must know the 
sacrifice that our fellow men and women made to advance all of us. We 
must not allow their efforts to fade into history. Their struggle must 
not become just another paragraph in our history books. We must keep 
the memories alive.
  So Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to say: I Remember and I 
will not stop.

                          ____________________