[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 91 (Thursday, June 19, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 LEGISLATION RECOGNIZING PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S FOUNDING OF THE LAWYERS' 
                       COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 19, 2003

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak today to introduce 
legislation recognizing President Kennedy's founding of the Lawyers' 
Committee for Civil Rights Under Law by supporting the designation of 
June 21, 2003 as ``Equal Justice Day'' in honor of the Committee's 
tireless efforts over the past 40 years to secure justice and equal 
opportunity for all. On June 21, 1963, I was summoned to White House 
along with 250 other members of the bar by President Kennedy to help 
resolve the civil rights crises which gripped the nation. Without 
President Kennedy's vision for racial justice, the bar would have 
remained silent in the face of vocal resistance by southern state 
legislatures against desegregation.
  For more than four decades, the Lawyers' Committee has worked to 
advance the civil rights of African Americans and other racial and 
ethnic minority communities in the areas of environmental protection, 
employment, affirmative action, fair housing, and voting. The Committee 
protects fundamental civil rights by representing African Americans and 
other racial and ethnic minorities and women in the courts, advocating 
strong enforcement of civil rights laws before administrative bodies, 
working in coalition with other organizations, and by educating the 
public about important civil rights issues. Among many other 
achievements over the years, the Lawyers' Committee was successful in: 
fighting for passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, securing a 
landmark, unanimous U.S. Supreme Court Decision that strengthened First 
Amendment protections for peaceful political boycotts in Claiborne 
Hardware Co. v. NAACP, and coordinating a Church Burning Project in the 
1990s to provide free legal services to churches that were destroyed 
during the bitter rampage of racially motivated church burnings.
  By supporting the designation of June 21, 2003 as ``Equal Justice 
Day'', we will recognize the achievements of the Lawyers' Committee, as 
its staff and pro-bono attorneys, clients and friends commemorate and 
celebrate its 40th anniversary. I urge you to support this legislation 
that will honor President Kennedy's commitment to implementing justice 
reflected in the accomplishments of the Lawyers' Committee and the many 
hours of pro-bono service offered by lawyers and law firms throughout 
this country.

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