[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 22, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOUGALOO NINE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 22, 2026

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
courage and legacy of a group of people whose actions helped move the 
state of Mississippi closer to justice. They are known as the Tougaloo 
Nine.
  On March 27, 1961, nine students from Tougaloo College made a 
decision that many would have been too afraid to make. They walked into 
a whites-only Jackson Municipal Library and quietly took their seats to 
read. They understood the risk. In Mississippi at that time, that 
simple act could lead to arrest or worse. But they did it anyway, 
because they believed in something bigger than fear.
  These students were not acting on impulse. They were disciplined, 
thoughtful, and committed to nonviolence. They had been guided by 
leaders like Medgar Evers and others who believed that real change 
required both courage and strategy.
  When law enforcement arrived and told them to leave, they refused. 
They were arrested, jailed, and later convicted. Still, they did not 
back down. Their actions sent a message that access to knowledge, to 
public spaces, and to opportunity should not be determined by the color 
of your skin.
  For too long, the story of the Tougaloo Nine has not received the 
recognition it deserves. But their impact is clear.
  Mr. Speaker, the actions of the Tougaloo Nine helped lay the 
foundation for progress that would later be reflected in laws like the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964. I often say that progress comes because 
people are willing to stand up, speak out, and, in this case, sit down 
for what is right. The Tougaloo Nine showed us what that looks like.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 65th anniversary of 
their bravery, their sacrifice, and their lasting contribution to the 
ongoing fight for equality and justice in this country.

                          ____________________