[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 1, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H2782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   EXERCISING FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS

  (Mr. BOWMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BOWMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have had guns pulled on me multiple times 
by law enforcement simply for being a Black man in America, and now I 
see guns being drawn on peaceful protesters at Columbia University.
  When I was 11 years old, I was the victim of police brutality simply 
for being Black in America, and now I see that brutality being 
inflicted on peaceful protesters at Columbia University. For what? 
Simply exercising their First Amendment rights to peacefully assemble 
as they protest the collective punishment and murder of civilians in 
Gaza; 100,000 killed and injured, mostly women and children. They are 
protesting our taxpayer dollars going to Benjamin Netanyahu to continue 
this mass murder. That is their right.
  They are supposed to push us to stand for what this flag represents. 
Are we in a police state or is this a democracy? We must stand with our 
young people and demand justice and freedom for Palestinians and 
everyone in this world.

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