[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 47 (Monday, March 16, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE GREENWOOD VOTERS LEAGUE

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 16, 2026

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
historic legacy of the Greenwood Voters League, an organization whose 
courage, persistence, and commitment to democracy transformed political 
participation in Greenwood, Mississippi, and helped advance voting 
rights throughout the Mississippi Delta.
  Founded in the years following the passage of the Voting Rights Act 
of 1965, the Greenwood Voters League emerged at a time when African 
American citizens in Leflore County--despite being a majority of the 
population--were systematically excluded from meaningful political 
representation. Through grassroots organizing, voter education, and 
unwavering advocacy, the League worked to ensure that Black citizens 
could fully exercise their constitutional right to vote and participate 
in local governance.
  Building upon earlier civil rights efforts in Greenwood led by local 
leaders and national organizations such as the Student Nonviolent 
Coordinating Committee, the Greenwood Voters League focused on 
converting voter registration gains into political power. The League 
played a pivotal role in mobilizing voters, endorsing candidates, and 
challenging discriminatory electoral systems that diluted the voting 
strength of African American citizens.
  One of the League's most significant contributions came through its 
leadership in litigation challenging Greenwood's at-large election 
system. In 1977, members of the Greenwood Voters League became 
plaintiffs in a landmark Voting Rights Act lawsuit against the City of 
Greenwood, asserting that the city's form of government denied Black 
voters an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. This 
legal action was part of a broader national struggle to enforce the 
promise of the Voting Rights Act and dismantle entrenched barriers to 
fair representation.
  The long-term impact of the Greenwood Voters League is undeniable. 
Its work helped open the doors of local government to African American 
leadership and laid the foundation for greater political inclusion in 
Greenwood and throughout the Delta. Among those shaped by this movement 
was David Lee Jordan, an educator and civil rights advocate who went on 
to serve on the Greenwood City Council and later in the Mississippi 
State Senate, continuing the fight for voting rights, education, and 
equality.
  The Greenwood Voters League stands as a powerful reminder that 
democracy is strengthened when ordinary citizens organize, persist, and 
demand accountability. Its legacy continues to inspire new generations 
to protect the right to vote and to participate fully in civic life.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
Greenwood Voters League for its historic contributions and enduring 
role in advancing justice, representation, and democratic participation 
in Mississippi and our Nation.

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