[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6864]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                SUPPORTING RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE AND PROTEST

  (Mrs. JONES of Ohio asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had the pleasure of 
leading the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag on behalf of this 
Congress. This morning I stand again as a strong patriot. I say on 
behalf of all of the people of the United States of America, to the 
military troops across this world who are fighting on our behalf, thank 
you.
  I have said prayers day after day and as late as this morning on 
their behalf and that of their families. But as a patriot, I still 
think I have the ability and right to step up and say I think this war 
is not what we should be engaged in. I support the Presidency, I 
support the troops, but I also support the right to speak out, to 
assemble and protest.
  Mr. Speaker, I say to the American public and those across the world 
that there are those of us who believe we should not be engaged in war; 
but those across the borders working on our behalf, we hold them in 
high esteem, and pray that they will return home safely.

                          ____________________