[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 8809]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING STUDENT DEMONSTRATORS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, democracy is the cornerstone of 
our government. True democracy allows room for dissent, discussion, and 
demonstration.

                              {time}  1845

  Last week, students from around the country arrived in our Nation's 
capital to demonstrate in support of affirmative action in higher 
education. They actively participated in a peaceful way in our 
democracy. And I am sure that the founders of this Nation must have 
been as proud of them as I am of the students who participated.
  Students marched, sang songs, prayed, and urged the Supreme Court to 
allow schools like the University of Michigan to continue the practice 
of allowing diversity in higher education. The students realize that in 
spite of the progress made over the last 40 years, minorities, women 
and people with disabilities, still face major barriers in education, 
business, and employment. They also realize that the prerequisite for 
change is struggle, and that without struggle there is indeed no 
progress.
  Many people dismiss students because they are generally perceived as 
not actively engaged in the political process. In addition, others 
suggest that they are unwilling to sacrifice and do the things 
necessary for group liberation. The enlightened students I encountered 
at the Supreme Court represented America at its best. They represented 
America and its great diversity.
  Their message was clear, strong, and compelling. It was a message 
that affirmative action is a powerful, proven, and effective tool for 
removing the remnants of prejudice and bias. It was a message that 
affirmative action capitalizes on the strength of our diversity and 
opens the doors for opportunities. I am proud of the students who 
sacrificed their sleep, their classroom work, to brave the cold weather 
and proclaim that affirmative action is relevant and needed in higher 
education. They realized that education is the great equalizer. It is 
the ladder to success.
  The thousands of students who demonstrated came by train, car, bus 
and many on foot. The impressive gathering of college and high school 
students was reminiscent of some of the activities done to achieve 
fairness and equalities throughout the 1960's. Of course, the challenge 
for all of us now is to keep the momentum and the pressure on.
  Again, I commend the students for standing for something as important 
as equal opportunity to higher education. I commend them for their 
efforts and remind them that the struggle must continue.

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