[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 111 (Thursday, July 24, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9895-S9896]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE TRAGEDY IN NEW YORK CITY

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I rise to speak about the tragedy that 
occurred in my city yesterday.
  Everyone knows that a gunman came into our city hall, into the city 
council chamber, raised his gun, and killed one of our brave city 
councilmen. I knew the councilman. I knew him well. He did not live far 
from my home in Brooklyn. One of my happiest moments with him was 
speaking at his inaugural ceremony only 2 short years ago.
  So I would like to speak about Councilman James Davis, and also about 
Officer Richard Burt, who acted with bravery. In short, in the wake of 
this terrible tragedy, we really celebrate two heroes: mourning the 
life of one, thankful for the bravery of the other.
  First, I would like to talk about Councilman Davis. He came from 
Brooklyn. He went to a high school that was one of my high school's 
rivals, and followed in the footsteps of his father. He was a 
corrections officer, and then a police officer, and then ran for public 
office.
  He was always a maverick. He liked to challenge the conventional 
wisdom. He was unafraid. He was virtually fearless. But he was always 
fearless with a smile on his face. He would take on whatever powers 
that be because he believed it was right.
  He cared so much about his community. Long before he became an 
elected official, he would sponsor ``Stop the Violence'' marches in 
Crown Heights. Everyone knew it was August when the big signs saying 
``Stop the Violence'' would be emblazoned across Eastern Parkway.
  When he got elected to the city council, it was a dream come true for 
James Davis. He had run for office many times before and been defeated, 
but he kept working and working. The people in the community saw that 
the man was sincere and put him in the office of city council.
  Once on the city council, it was clear that James Davis was one of 
the rising stars in his own way because he always did things in his own 
way. He was a maverick. He would oppose things everybody else thought 
was good, and then he would have good reason for it. And he always had 
a twinkle of mischief in his eye, and often, when he would greet you, 
he would have some kind of little joke to mention with you. But he 
never hesitated to speak his mind. He never hesitated to vote his 
conscience, regardless of how it would affect his career. He refused to 
roll over for anyone, even some of the most powerful politicians in New 
York City.
  So we miss James Davis. It is a tragedy he has been taken from us so 
young, with so much potential. It is a tragedy he has been taken from 
this Earth, untimely ripped. But his smile, his passion, his desire to 
fight, his desire to tilt at windmills will remain with us forever.
  There is another hero we celebrate today, and that is Police Officer 
Richard Burt, so typical of the bravery of New York City police 
officers. Officer Burt acutely saw what was happening on the balcony 
during the New York City council meeting, and though he was 45 feet 
away, he fired shots at

[[Page S9896]]

James Davis' murderer, and the shots struck true and killed the 
murderer.
  Richard Burt saved lives. Richard Burt, just like James Davis, was 
brave. James Davis' bravery was about his willingness to challenge the 
establishment and to do what he thought was right. Burt's bravery came 
as well in the line of duty, as a police officer. We thank him because 
many lives were saved.
  I read the reports this morning that in the murderer's sock were more 
bullets. Lord knows what would have happened had Richard Burt's aim not 
been brave and true.
  So it is a sad day in New York today. It is a sad day because our 
city council chamber, our city hall, has been violated by violence. It 
is a sad day because we miss and mourn for James Davis, and our 
thoughts and prayers are with his family.
  Two brave men: One we mourn, gone, his memory, his courage live with 
us; one we thank for saving the lives of so many others.
  I yield the floor.

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