[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 50 (Thursday, March 21, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E276-E277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING DR. PETER STONER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 21, 2024

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
White Freedom Rider from Jackson, Mississippi, Dr. Peter Stoner.
  Dr. Peter Stoner, is a courageous Civil Rights Freedom Rider and a 
genuine American hero. His selfless dedication to the Civil Rights 
Movement, particularly his role as a white Freedom Rider, significantly 
influenced the course of history, contributing to the passage of the 
Civil Rights Voting Act of 1966.
  Dr. Stoner's commitment to justice and equality demonstrated through 
his role as a

[[Page E277]]

white Freedom Rider, played a pivotal role in shaping history and 
leading to the enactment of the Civil Rights Voting Act of 1966. 
Despite enduring beatings, imprisonment, and defying discriminatory 
laws by marrying outside his race, Dr. Stoner's unwavering 
determination has left an indelible mark on our Nation's history.
  Beyond his activism, Dr. Stoner's extraordinary actions include 
enduring physical assaults, facing imprisonment, and challenging 
discriminatory laws by marrying outside his race. His sacrifices, along 
with those of his family, are evident in their encounters with 
challenges, such as the denial to partake in the estate of Pearl K. 
Stoner.
  At the age of 83, Dr. Stoner resides in Jackson, Mississippi, caring 
for his wife, who is currently receiving care in a skilled nursing home 
following a debilitating stroke.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dr. Peter 
Stoner's contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.

                          ____________________