[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2103]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




50TH ANNIVERSARY OF BLOODY SUNDAY, TURNAROUND TUESDAY, AND FINAL SELMA 
                   TO MONTGOMERY VOTING RIGHTS MARCH

  (Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor those who, in the 
face of violent opposition, bravely stood for what is right. This March 
will mark the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, Turnaround Tuesday, 
and the final Selma to Montgomery voting rights march.
  In 2013, I had the honor of joining Congressman John Lewis to visit 
some of these historic sites, including the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where 
nearly 8,000 foot soldiers marched to demonstrate against the denial of 
African Americans' right to vote. The sacrifice and perseverance of the 
Selma foot soldiers inspired the Nation, and in August of that year, 
the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law.
  As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, I, along with many 
of my colleagues, am a proud original cosponsor of H.R. 431, which 
would award the highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, 
to the foot soldiers of the voting rights movement. The bravery of the 
civil rights activists demonstrated half a century ago was remarkable, 
but we must not forget how much still needs to be done.

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