[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 106 (Thursday, July 9, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H4972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG

  (Ms. SEWELL of Alabama asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to add my voice to 
this discussion about the Confederate battle flag.
  As a daughter of the South, a Representative from Alabama, a native 
of Selma, Alabama, I have to tell you I cannot believe, in 2015, we are 
talking about whether or not this body would allow on Federal grounds, 
Federal cemeteries, and Federal national parks the display, the selling 
of this Confederate battle flag.
  There is no denying that our Constitution talks about ``We, the 
people,'' and there is no denying that this Confederate flag is 
controversial. Some see it as heritage, and most see it as hatred.
  I can tell you one thing: we, the people, cannot allow on Federal 
grounds--we all pay taxes and are citizens of this great Nation--and to 
allow this flag to be sold and to be displayed on Federal land is 
unacceptable.
  I really hope that, when I gathered together 100 Members of Congress 
in Selma for the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery march, it 
was not a kumbaya moment in Selma in March; rather, I hope that we will 
do what we promised this Nation we would do, and that is represent we, 
the people, by taking down this flag and not displaying it on any 
grounds.

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