[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 25, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

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                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 25, 2014

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect and sincere 
admiration that I rise today to celebrate Black History Month and its 
2014 theme--Civil Rights in America, focusing on the 50th anniversary 
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This year's theme reflects on the many 
courageous individuals who fought for an end to discrimination based on 
race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Through the passage of 
the Civil Rights Act, discrimination was outlawed in public facilities 
including restaurants and hotels, ending the era of legal segregation 
in such establishments.
   Leading up to the passage of the Civil Rights Act, Dr. Martin Luther 
King Jr. led the Civil Rights March on Washington fighting for, amongst 
other ideals, meaningful civil rights legislation, including better 
employment opportunities and an end to segregation. This historic event 
led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which paved the way 
for future anti-discrimination legislation, including the Voting Rights 
Act of 1965. While there is more work to be done, we must follow in the 
footsteps of the great leaders of the Civil Rights Movement in order to 
ensure that every American is afforded equal opportunity and justice.
   This month and always, it is important that we honor and celebrate 
America's greatest advocates for equal rights and civil liberties, 
including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglass, 
W.E.B. Dubois, and Thurgood Marshall, and to remember the extraordinary 
contributions of organizations including the NAACP, the National Urban 
League, and the Congress for Racial Equality, as well as many others 
which have played such a critical role in changing the landscape of 
American society for the better. As we pay tribute to these heroes of 
African American history, let us remember their profound perseverance, 
sacrifice, and struggle in the fight for freedom and equality which has 
shaped our great nation.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me 
in celebrating Black History Month and honoring those who fought, and 
those who continue to fight, for civil rights and justice. Through the 
efforts of these honorable individuals, we are reminded how far we have 
come as a nation, while realizing there is still progress to be made.

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