[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 2, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING THE INSTALLATION OF A HISTORIC MARKER FOR JIMMIE LEE 
                                JACKSON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 2, 2016

  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today, the Alabama Tourism 
Department will honor the life of Voting Rights martyr, Jimmie Lee 
Jackson, by installing a historic marker in front of the courthouse in 
Marion, Alabama. I want to join in acknowledging this great honor and 
the tremendous personal sacrifice of the family of Jimmie Lee Jackson 
who lost his life in the fight for voter equality in America.
  At the age of 26, Jimmie Lee Jackson, a Marion, Alabama native, was 
brutally killed at the hands of an Alabama State Trooper on February 
18, 1965. He was killed while trying to protect his mother and 82 year 
old grandfather after attending a voting rights rally. The state 
trooper confronted the family at Mack's Cafe in Marion and shot Jimmie 
Lee Jackson at point blank range for simply shielding his family from 
the intimidation and retribution being carried out by law enforcement. 
It is heartbreaking to think that it was the audacity of this young man 
and his family to peacefully protest for their constitutional rights 
that led to his brutal murder at the hands of law enforcement.
  The senseless murder of Jimmie Lee Jackson served as the catalyst for 
the voting rights movement in Selma. Jimmie Lee Jackson deserves to 
have his proper place in American history as a true agent of change. 
Likewise, I was honored to sponsor the National Park Service efforts 
that led to the City of Marion being added to the Selma to Montgomery 
Historic Trail as the starting point of the historic road of the Voting 
Rights Movement.
  So today, March 2, 2016, it is befitting that the State of Alabama 
would honor Jimmie Lee Jackson with the installation of a historic 
marker at the front of the courthouse in Marion. The marker will 
commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of Jimmie Lee Jackson, and will 
also serve as a reminder for generations to come that freedom is not 
free--but rather freedom is paid for at a hefty cost.
  The senseless killing of Jimmie Lee Jackson shocked the consciousness 
of the American public and galvanized the local folks to be even more 
resolved to fight against the inequalities in voting. Jimmie Lee 
Jackson's death helped reignite the push for federal voting protections 
and led James Bevel of the SCLC to organize the Selma to Montgomery 
march.
  On February 24, 2016, the United States Congress awarded the 
Congressional Gold Medal to the Foot Soldiers who participated in the 
1965 Voting Rights Marches from Selma to Montgomery. While Jimmie Lee 
Jackson did not live to participate in the Selma to Montgomery March, 
he was there in spirit. It was his spirit that gave strength to the 
weak, that gave courage to the scared, and that gave hope to the 
hopeless.
  To the family of Jimmie Lee Jackson, I say this Nation owes a debt of 
gratitude for your personal sacrifice for which we will never be able 
to fully repay. My hope is that the national recognition of the special 
role that Jimmie Lee Jackson played and today's historic marker by the 
State of Alabama is a powerful tribute to his life and the significance 
of his sacrifice.
  Today we celebrate Jimmie Lee Jackson, but we are also reminded that 
the fight for voting rights still continues. Jimmie Lee Jackson did not 
stand on the sidelines, waiting patiently for justice to come. Nor 
should we. We must continue the fight to renew the full protections of 
the Voting Rights Act, to ensure that every eligible voter is able to 
cast their ballot, and that every vote matters.
  Jimmie Lee Jackson recognized the importance of the vote. He 
recognized the power that the ballot box held. Accordingly, we owe it 
to ourselves and to the memory of Jimmie Lee Jackson to continue his 
fight.

                          ____________________