[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 15220-15221]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING THURGOOD MARSHALL

  Mr. SALAZAR. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 381, which was 
received from the House.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the concurrent 
resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 381) honoring and 
     recognizing the dedication and achievements of Thurgood 
     Marshall on the 100th anniversary of his birth.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, this month marks the 100th anniversary of 
the birth of Justice Thurgood Marshall, a legal giant who left an 
enduring imprint on the Nation. As an advocate, he challenged his 
country to live up to its promises of equal justice for all citizens. 
As a jurist, he served as our collective conscience and articulated our 
deepest convictions. Today we pay tribute to this American hero, and we 
recognize that our democracy is stronger because he lived.
  Justice Marshall was the great grandson of a slave. He attended 
segregated schools in Baltimore. From these humble origins, he rose to 
become the first African American to be Solicitor General of the United 
States, to sit on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and to serve on 
the highest court in the land.
  Justice Marshall, however, was more than a legal pioneer. He worked 
tirelessly to realize his vision of civil rights lawyers acting as 
social engineers who would change America for the better. He endured 
countless hardships and risked his life traveling through the South 
seeking to secure civil rights. Justice Marshall did so because of his 
abiding faith that racial injustice was incompatible with our

[[Page 15221]]

highest ideals. He believed America could be more inclusive and our 
democracy more expansive than the Founders ever imagined.
  Because of his audacious work and his indomitable spirit, our 
children and grandchildren are able to learn and live together. 
Minority candidates can--and have--run for public office, and we are 
part of living history as Senator Barack Obama continues his campaign 
to become this country's first African-American President. The poor and 
the powerless cannot be compelled to confess to a crime while under 
duress. And all Americans enjoy strengthened privacy and first 
amendment protections. These are some of the many achievements of 
Justice Marshall.
  Despite his enormous contributions, Justice Marshall's work to secure 
basic rights for all remains unfulfilled. Today, racial bias persists 
and human rights violations continue to challenge our commitment to 
equal justice. Equally disturbing, the current Supreme Court has begun 
closing the courthouse doors to those Americans most in need of the 
Court's protection and rolling back decades of progress on civil 
rights.
  I recall a 1992 Independence Day speech by Justice Marshall where he 
eloquently reminded us that guarding our precious rights requires 
constant vigilance. He said: ``Democracy just cannot flourish amid 
fear. Liberty cannot bloom amid hate.''
  As we honor this great man today, let our tribute be a renewed 
commitment to ensuring that our Federal courts are comprised of men and 
women who share Justice Marshall's commitment to protecting our 
fundamental freedoms and securing equal justice for all.
  Mr. SALAZAR. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
concurrent resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the 
motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening 
action or debate, and that any statements relating to the concurrent 
resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 381) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.

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