[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14874]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 IN CELEBRATION OF THE UNVEILING OF A STATUE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS IN 
                       THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 20, 2012

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an 
important milestone for our nation's Capitol. The statue of 
abolitionist leader, Frederick Douglass, will soon grace the halls of 
the United States Capitol. This effigy will serve as a reminder of the 
hard work of this great American and civil rights leader who was 
committed to the freedom and equal rights of all Americans.
  Frederick Douglass is often called the father of the civil rights 
movement. Born a slave in Maryland around 1818, he taught himself how 
to read and write at a young age despite the ban forbidding slaves to 
be literate. It was by reading newspapers and political writings that 
Douglass developed his ideology on the opposition of slavery.
  Douglass attempted to escape from slavery twice before he succeeded 
on his third attempt with the help of his future wife, Anna Murray. 
After they married in 1838 and settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts, 
Douglass became a regular lecturer in opposition of slavery. He also 
spoke out in support of women's rights. With the help of his 
bestselling autobiographies, Frederick Douglass quickly became one of 
the most famous African Americans in the country.
  During the Civil War, Douglass gave council to President Abraham 
Lincoln and President Andrew Johnson on the treatment of black soldiers 
and the importance of black suffrage. After the war, he was appointed 
to several political positions and, as Victoria Woodhull's running mate 
on the Equal Rights Party ticket in 1872, became the first African 
American nominated for the office of Vice President of the United 
States. Douglass continued to fight for the rights of African-
Americans, women, and minority groups until his death in 1895.
  To honor the life and accomplishments of this abolitionist, human 
rights and women's rights activist, orator, author, journalist, 
publisher, and social reformer, the United States Congress has approved 
a bill that would allow the District of Columbia to display his statue 
in our Capitol. The statue, designed and completed by architect Steven 
Weitzman, was commissioned by D.C. to present to the Capitol as a gift.
  Frederick Douglass had said, ``If there is no struggle, there is no 
progress.'' Despite his many struggles in the bonds of slavery, he rose 
to prominence through his determination and fervor. His vision for 
America was that all Americans would be equal and free of 
discrimination and he worked tirelessly to share this vision with 
others and to help it become a reality. The progress we have made as a 
nation would not have been possible without the leadership and 
influence of great leaders like Frederick Douglass.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of the Second Congressional 
District of Georgia, I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying 
tribute to a strong leader and inspiring visionary, Frederick Douglass. 
It is my hope that all the visitors to our Capitol will see his statue 
and remember all the valuable contributions made to our nation by this 
great human rights advocate.

                          ____________________