[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 4, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H1573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SELMA AND THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Hawaii (Mr. Takai) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the 50th 
anniversary of the Selma voting rights movement and of the Selma to 
Montgomery marches that led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act. 
Nothing so far has moved me more as a freshman Member of this august 
body than to sit down and talk with our colleague, John Lewis, who 
years ago was the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating 
Committee.
  I have had many occasions since the beginning of this Congress to 
speak with Congressman John Lewis about the events of 50 years ago. He 
is the only living ``Big Six'' leader of the American civil rights 
movement still with us. It will forever be my honor to have sat next to 
Mr. Lewis when President Obama gave his State of the Union Address 
earlier this year. It was not lost on me that I was sitting and 
listening to President Obama while sitting next to a man whose actions 
50 years ago helped pave the way for Barack Obama, a Black kid from 
Hawaii, to become President of the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, the freedom marches mark a significant turning point in 
America's history. As an ethnic minority myself, I am thankful for 
those that paved the way for the freedoms and the liberties that all of 
us as Americans enjoy. They suffered insults and physical harm, yet 
their spirit remained unbroken.
  The right of our citizens to vote is one that runs through the 
foundation of our country. To prevent or inhibit the vote of a citizen 
is an action that I feel contradicts the very principles on which this 
country was established. Even in our current society, there are efforts 
being undertaken to limit citizens of our country from casting their 
vote. This is a despicable practice and highlights to me the importance 
of the Voting Rights Act and the need to remain vigilant against those 
who seek to reverse the great strides made by this country towards 
equal rights for all.
  The brave actions taken by the civil rights marchers 50 years ago 
still resonate with our society today. That is why I am proud to join 
the 50th anniversary of the freedom march.
  Looking through the photos of the original Selma protest, I was 
struck by photos of Dr. Martin Luther King, Congressman John Lewis, and 
others leading the 54-mile third march, arms linked together in 
solidarity, wearing what looked like white double carnation Hawaiian 
lei. Looking into the matter further, I learned, in fact, that they 
were wearing lei. Why were they wearing lei? I found an answer that 
drove home for me the importance of standing together for civil rights 
for all.
  Mr. Speaker, many of you may not know this, but Dr. Martin Luther 
King actually came to speak at the University of Hawaii in 1964. He 
came for a civil rights symposium being held at the university. It was 
during this time in Hawaii that he began a deep friendship with the 
Reverend Abraham Kahikina Akaka, former pastor of Kawaiahao Church in 
Oahu and the first chairman of the Hawaii Advisory Committee of the 
U.S. Civil Rights Commission. In the spirit of aloha, which means 
compassion, peace, and love, the reverend sent to Selma lei for the 
leaders of the protests to wear.
  I will be marching this weekend, Mr. Speaker; and to honor the 
tradition and the bond established many years ago between Hawaii and 
the Alabama civil rights leaders, Senator Mazie Hirono and I will be 
presenting lei to Congressman John Lewis and all of our congressional 
colleagues. These lei are a tribute to the Selma marchers 50 years ago 
and the knowledge that their efforts reverberated through our Nation 
and to Hawaii, a State that was only 6 years old.
  As we travel across the 54-mile historic trail and cross the famous 
Edmund Pettus Bridge on Saturday, we will remember those whose lives 
were lost fighting for our civil rights, remember those who paved the 
way, celebrate the hard fought victories, and remind ourselves that the 
fight is not yet over.
  I look forward to participating in this historic weekend, and I thank 
the Faith & Politics Institute for coordinating our congressional 
pilgrimage to Alabama.

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