[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 28, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E78-E79]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      DEDICATION CEREMONY OF THURGOOD MARSHALL COMMEMORATIVE STAMP

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 28, 2003

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, January 7 marks the first day of the 108th 
Congress. I am pleased and honored to be a Member of Congress and the 
Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. I am also pleased and honored 
that earlier today the Thurgood Marshall Commemorative Stamp was 
dedicated.
  The dedication and issuance of this stamp in honor of Justice 
Thurgood Marshall, serves to recognize this great man for his civil 
rights achievements as a lawyer and for reaching the pinnacle of the 
U.S. Justice system as the first African-American Supreme Court 
Justice. President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Justice Marshall to the 
Supreme Court where he served 23 years on the Supreme Court, retiring 
on June 27, 1991, at the age of 82.
  Through his knowledge, advocacy and devotion to the cause of civil 
rights, Justice Marshall made a significant contribution to the battle 
fought in the United States courts to eradicate the legacy of slavery. 
I believe, however, that he should be revered most for his courage and 
independent judicial temperament--for breathing life into the text of 
the Constitution. He worked tirelessly to guarantee all Americans 
equality and liberty in their individual choices, especially on issues 
involving voting rights, housing and education. It is an honor to 
recognize a man whose career is a monument to the judiciary system and 
who has inspired so many to continue his quiet crusade.
  Marshall was born and raised in the Congressional District I 
represent--Baltimore, Maryland--and actually lived in a home which is 
about eight blocks from where I now reside. We both attended Howard 
University and, more significantly, he was once turned away from the 
law school I attended and graudated--The University of Maryland School 
of Law. As such, I am especially proud to honor Thurgood Marshall, as I 
share a common path with this historic figure.
  I believe Justice Marshall has had a significant impact on the events 
of the 20th Century. His efforts on behalf of African-Americans built a 
structure of individual rights that has become the cornerstone of 
protections for all Americans.
  Prior to joining the Supreme Court, in 1954 Justice Marshall argued 
the case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas before the 
Supreme Court, where racial segregation in public schools was declared 
unconstitutional. In fact he won 29 of the 32 cases he argued before 
the Supreme Court, including, cases in which the Court declared 
unconstitutional: a Southern state's exclusion of African-American 
voters from primary elections (Smith v. Allwright, 1944); state 
judicial enforcement of racial ``restrictive covenants'' in housing 
(Shelley v. Kraemer, 1948); and ``separate but equal'' facilities for 
African-American professionals and graduate students in state 
universities (Sweatt v. Painter and McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, 
both 1950).
  After his death, an article in the Washington Afro-American stated, 
``[w]e make movies about Malcolm X, we get a holiday to honor Dr. 
Martin Luther King, but every day we live the legacy of Justice 
Thurgood Marshall.''
  Justice Marshall opened doors for all Americans and had a significant 
impact on the events of the 20th Century. Marshall was instrumental in 
supporting the rights of minorities and immigrants; limiting government 
intrusion in cases involving illegal search and seizure, double 
jeopardy, and the right to privacy; and in creating new protections 
under the law for women, children, prisoners, and the homeless.
  His legacy has inspired Americans to name educational institutions, 
federal buildings, legal societies, libraries, and numerous academic 
achievement awards in his honor. And now a commemorative stamp in his 
honor. I know I join many in the Congress to say I am honored and 
privileged to be a part of history--the dedication of the Justice 
Thurgood Marshall Commemorative stamp.

[[Page E79]]



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