[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 186 (Friday, December 11, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H14808]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IRANIAN PROTESTORS, THE WORLD IS WATCHING

  (Mr. HASTINGS of Florida asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, one of the great privileges we 
have is to come here and speak about those who have departed life and 
to pay condolences and commiserate with their families.
  Last week, three persons that were very dear to me died. They are 
Isaiah ``Ike'' Williams, a classmate of mine in law school from 
Jacksonville; C. Bette Winbush, the first black city commissioner in 
St. Petersburg; and the Reverend Samuel George, a Presbyterian minister 
that lived in Pittsburgh but in my earlier career worked in Fort 
Lauderdale. All three of these people fought their entire lives for 
tolerance and equality. The Reverend George taught me a great deal 
about ecumenism and interdenominational undertakings.
  Their courage brings to mind for me the courage, turning away from 
their work, to those that are in the streets in Iran who are protesting 
their government as I did with Reverend George and C. Bette and Ike and 
are saying to their government that they should be free and have the 
opportunity to protest.
  I just want those Iranians to know, as I give condolences to my 
friends that have all departed, that they are not alone. And one of the 
things that we used to say in the civil rights movement, the whole 
world is watching.

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