>> CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS HAS >> CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS HAS RISKED LIFE, LIMB AND RISKED LIFE, LIMB AND IMPRISONMENT COUNTLESS TIMES AS IMPRISONMENT COUNTLESS TIMES AS AN ACTIVIST FOR CIVIL AND HUMAN AN ACTIVIST FOR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS.

RIGHTS.

IN THE 1960S, WHILE LEWIS WAS IN THE 1960S, WHILE LEWIS WAS JUST IN HIS 20S, HE WAS A JUST IN HIS 20S, HE WAS A LEADER IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, MOVEMENT, DELIVERING A KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT DELIVERING A KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON, THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON, ORGANIZING LUNCH COUNTER ORGANIZING LUNCH COUNTER SIT-INS AND PARTICIPATING IN SIT-INS AND PARTICIPATING IN THE FREEDOM RIDES.

THE FREEDOM RIDES.

NOW, AS LEWIS FIGHTS FOR THE NOW, AS LEWIS FIGHTS FOR THE RIGHTS FOR IMMIGRANTS AND OTHER RIGHTS FOR IMMIGRANTS AND OTHER DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, HE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, HE REMAINS A DEVOTED ADVOCATE OF REMAINS A DEVOTED ADVOCATE OF THE PHILOSOPHY OF NON-VIOLENCE.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF NON-VIOLENCE.

LEWIS DISCUSSES HIS LIFE-LONG LEWIS DISCUSSES HIS LIFE-LONG JOURNEY AS AN ACTIVIST AND JOURNEY AS AN ACTIVIST AND HIS INNOVATIVE NEW GRAPHIC NOVEL HIS INNOVATIVE NEW GRAPHIC NOVEL "MARCH" BOOK ONE, WITH "MARCH" BOOK ONE, WITH MSNBC'S RACHEL MADDOW ON MSNBC'S RACHEL MADDOW ON "GREAT CONVERSATIONS" "GREAT CONVERSATIONS" RECORDED BEFORE A LIVE AUDIENCE RECORDED BEFORE A LIVE AUDIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY AUTHOR FORUM, THIS IS KENTUCKY AUTHOR FORUM, THIS IS "GREAT CONVERSATIONS," "GREAT CONVERSATIONS," JOHN LEWIS AND RACHEL MADDOW.

JOHN LEWIS AND RACHEL MADDOW.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] >> HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF >> HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF RUNNING IN KENTUCKY?

RUNNING IN KENTUCKY?

[ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] YOU ARE AMONG FRIENDS.

YOU ARE AMONG FRIENDS.

>> THAT'S A LOT OF WONDERFUL AND >> THAT'S A LOT OF WONDERFUL AND GOOD AND GREAT PEOPLE HERE.

GOOD AND GREAT PEOPLE HERE.

I'M DELIGHTED TO BE HERE BUT I I'M DELIGHTED TO BE HERE BUT I MUST TELL YOU I'M VERY DELIGHTED MUST TELL YOU I'M VERY DELIGHTED TO BE WITH YOU.

TO BE WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

[ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] >> YOU'RE THE BEST.

>> YOU'RE THE BEST.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I HAVE TO SAY FOR THE RECORD >> I HAVE TO SAY FOR THE RECORD THAT MY MOTHER HAS GIVEN MY THAT MY MOTHER HAS GIVEN MY FATHER AN EARLY BIRTHDAY PRESENT FATHER AN EARLY BIRTHDAY PRESENT THIS YEAR WHICH IS THAT SHE THIS YEAR WHICH IS THAT SHE SURPRISED HIM BY FLYING HIM OUT SURPRISED HIM BY FLYING HIM OUT HERE FROM CALIFORNIA.

HERE FROM CALIFORNIA.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] I WILL NOT POINT MY DAD OUT TO I WILL NOT POINT MY DAD OUT TO YOU BECAUSE THEN HE WILL TALK TO YOU BECAUSE THEN HE WILL TALK TO EACH ONE OF YOU BEFORE YOU EACH ONE OF YOU BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

LEAVE.

BUT, HE'S HERE BECAUSE YOU ARE A BUT, HE'S HERE BECAUSE YOU ARE A LIFE-LONG HERO OF HIS, AND YOU LIFE-LONG HERO OF HIS, AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN MY FAMILY AN HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN MY FAMILY AN ICON OF AMERICAN GREATNESS.

ICON OF AMERICAN GREATNESS.

SO IT IS A GREAT HONOR.

SO IT IS A GREAT HONOR.

>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'M HONORED TO BE HERE AGAIN.

I'M HONORED TO BE HERE AGAIN.

>> YOU WERE THERE WHEN PRESIDENT >> YOU WERE THERE WHEN PRESIDENT JOHNSON SIGNED THE VOTING RIGHTS JOHNSON SIGNED THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT JUST MONTHS AFTER YOU WERE ACT JUST MONTHS AFTER YOU WERE BEATEN ON THE BRIDGE.

BEATEN ON THE BRIDGE.

THAT WAS AT A TIME THE NATIONAL THAT WAS AT A TIME THE NATIONAL GUARD HAD TO BE ACTIVATED TO GUARD HAD TO BE ACTIVATED TO ENFORCE THE LAW IN PARTS OF THIS ENFORCE THE LAW IN PARTS OF THIS COUNTRY.

COUNTRY.

YOU HAVE BEEN -- YOU WERE SWORN YOU HAVE BEEN -- YOU WERE SWORN IN THE CONGRESS IN 1987 JUST IN THE CONGRESS IN 1987 JUST AFTER THE IRAN CONTRA CRISIS AFTER THE IRAN CONTRA CRISIS WHICH IS A REAL CRISIS.

WHICH IS A REAL CRISIS.

IN BOSNIA AND IMPEACHMENT AND IN BOSNIA AND IMPEACHMENT AND 9/11 AND TORTURE AND IRAQ AND 9/11 AND TORTURE AND IRAQ AND IRAQ AGAIN.

IRAQ AGAIN.

AND CONGRESS HAS BEEN THROUGH A AND CONGRESS HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT.

LOT.

WE HAVE FACED A LOT OF WE HAVE FACED A LOT OF CHALLENGES AS A COUNTRY IN YOUR CHALLENGES AS A COUNTRY IN YOUR LIFETIME AND IN YOUR TIME IN LIFETIME AND IN YOUR TIME IN WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON.

WHY DOES IT FEEL RIGHT NOW LIKE WHY DOES IT FEEL RIGHT NOW LIKE WE WE ARE LESS ABLE TO HANDLE WE WE ARE LESS ABLE TO HANDLE EVEN THE SMALL STUFF WHEN WE EVEN THE SMALL STUFF WHEN WE HAVE DEALT WITH SO MUCH BIG HAVE DEALT WITH SO MUCH BIG STUFF.

STUFF.

>> I MUST TELL YOU, THAT THIS IS >> I MUST TELL YOU, THAT THIS IS MY 27TH YEAR IN THE CONGRESS.

MY 27TH YEAR IN THE CONGRESS.

I HAVE NEVER, EVER SEEN ANYTHING I HAVE NEVER, EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

LIKE THIS.

IT IS SO SAD, IT IS EMBARRASSING IT IS SO SAD, IT IS EMBARRASSING THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE MOST THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE MOST POWERFUL NATION ON THE PLANET POWERFUL NATION ON THE PLANET CANNOT GET ITS ACT TOGETHER.

CANNOT GET ITS ACT TOGETHER.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REST OF I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REST OF THE WORLD SAYING ABOUT US.

THE WORLD SAYING ABOUT US.

WE GO AROUND THE WORLD PREACHING WE GO AROUND THE WORLD PREACHING DEMOCRATIC IDEAS, DEMOCRACY.

DEMOCRATIC IDEAS, DEMOCRACY.

PEOPLE PROBABLY SAYING IF IT'S PEOPLE PROBABLY SAYING IF IT'S LIKE THAT, MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T LIKE THAT, MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.

MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.

BUT WE WILL OVERCOME.

BUT WE WILL OVERCOME.

>> I SHOULD SAY THAT THIS SHOW, >> I SHOULD SAY THAT THIS SHOW, THIS CONVERSATION WILL BE THIS CONVERSATION WILL BE REPLAYED IN THE FUTURE AND WE REPLAYED IN THE FUTURE AND WE ARE TALKING RIGHT NOW IN THE ARE TALKING RIGHT NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER WHEN WE ARE ON MIDDLE OF OCTOBER WHEN WE ARE ON THE EVE OF WHAT COULD BE, NOT THE EVE OF WHAT COULD BE, NOT JUST A NATIONAL BUT AN JUST A NATIONAL BUT AN INTERNATIONAL GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL GLOBAL CONFLAGRATION BECAUSE OF THE CONFLAGRATION BECAUSE OF THE DEBT CEILING DISCUSSIONS WHICH DEBT CEILING DISCUSSIONS WHICH YOU'RE LAMENTING HERE.

YOU'RE LAMENTING HERE.

YOU CAME UP AS AN ACTIVIST, AS A YOU CAME UP AS AN ACTIVIST, AS A CONFRONTER AND AN ORGANIZER, CONFRONTER AND AN ORGANIZER, THIS BOOK "MARCH" WHICH YOU HAVE THIS BOOK "MARCH" WHICH YOU HAVE WRITTEN WHICH HAS BEEN SO WRITTEN WHICH HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL IS ABOUT IN PART YOUR SUCCESSFUL IS ABOUT IN PART YOUR CREATIVITY AND COMING TO CREATIVITY AND COMING TO ADULTHOOD TRYING TO FIGURE WAYS ADULTHOOD TRYING TO FIGURE WAYS TO APPROACH CREATIVELY AND TO APPROACH CREATIVELY AND EFFECTIVELY APPROACH BIG EFFECTIVELY APPROACH BIG PROBLEMS.

PROBLEMS.

GIVEN THAT THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE GIVEN THAT THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN AND THAT'S WHO YOU ARE, IS BEEN AND THAT'S WHO YOU ARE, IS IT SATISFYING TO WORK IN IT SATISFYING TO WORK IN CONGRESS?

CONGRESS?

>> WELL -- >> WELL -- [ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] IT IS GRATIFYING TO REPRESENT IT IS GRATIFYING TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA, AND THE THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA, AND THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA.

PEOPLE OF AMERICA.

I WAS TAUGHT TO WORK HARD, AND I WAS TAUGHT TO WORK HARD, AND NOT TO GIVE UP.

NOT TO GIVE UP.

YOU KNOW, I GREW UP ON A FARM IN YOU KNOW, I GREW UP ON A FARM IN RURAL ALABAMA WORKING OUT IN THE RURAL ALABAMA WORKING OUT IN THE FIELD.

FIELD.

I SAID TO MY MOTHER, THIS IS I SAID TO MY MOTHER, THIS IS HARD WORK, AND SHE WOULD SAY, HARD WORK, AND SHE WOULD SAY, BOY WHAT WORK NEVER KILLED BOY WHAT WORK NEVER KILLED ANYBODY.

ANYBODY.

I SAID IT'S ABOUT TO KILL ME.

I SAID IT'S ABOUT TO KILL ME.

BUT THEN I HEARD OF ROSA PARKS, BUT THEN I HEARD OF ROSA PARKS, AND I MET ROSA PARK IN 1957 AT AND I MET ROSA PARK IN 1957 AT THE AGE OF 17.

THE AGE OF 17.

THE NEXT YEAR IN 1958, I THE NEXT YEAR IN 1958, I THE NEXT YEAR IN 1958, I MET THE NEXT YEAR IN 1958, I MET MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

AND I NEVER LOOKED BACK.

AND I NEVER LOOKED BACK.

I DIDN'T LIKE SEGREGATION AND I DIDN'T LIKE SEGREGATION AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.

I DIDN'T LIKE THOSE SIGNS.

I DIDN'T LIKE THOSE SIGNS.

AND I WAS INSPIRED TO DO AND I WAS INSPIRED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

DURING THE SIT-INS, WE CAME DURING THE SIT-INS, WE CAME TOGETHER, WE WORKED, WE STUDIED.

TOGETHER, WE WORKED, WE STUDIED.

BEFORE WE WERE GOING IN ANY BEFORE WE WERE GOING IN ANY SIT-IN, ANY PROTESTS, THE SIT-IN, ANY PROTESTS, THE FREEDOM RIDE, OR STANDING IN THE FREEDOM RIDE, OR STANDING IN THE THEATRES, WE STOOD IN THE WAY OF THEATRES, WE STOOD IN THE WAY OF PEACE, THE WAY OF LOVE, THE WAY PEACE, THE WAY OF LOVE, THE WAY OF NON-VIOLENCE.

OF NON-VIOLENCE.

WE STUDIED WHAT GANDHI ATTEMPTED WE STUDIED WHAT GANDHI ATTEMPTED TO DO IN SOUTH AFRICA, WHAT HE TO DO IN SOUTH AFRICA, WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHED IN INDIA.

ACCOMPLISHED IN INDIA.

WE STUDIED THOROGH AND THE WORLD WE STUDIED THOROGH AND THE WORLD AND AT A TIME WE STARTED SITTING AND AT A TIME WE STARTED SITTING IN, I WAS READY.

IN, I WAS READY.

YOU WOULD BE SITTING THERE AND YOU WOULD BE SITTING THERE AND SOMEONE WOULD COME UP AND SPIT SOMEONE WOULD COME UP AND SPIT ON YOU.

ON YOU.

OR PUT A LIGHTED CIGARETTE OUT OR PUT A LIGHTED CIGARETTE OUT IN YOUR HAIR OR DOWN YOUR BACK, IN YOUR HAIR OR DOWN YOUR BACK, POUR HOT WATER OR COFFEE OR HOT POUR HOT WATER OR COFFEE OR HOT CHOCOLATE.

CHOCOLATE.

CALL YOU NAMES, BUT WE WOULD CALL YOU NAMES, BUT WE WOULD LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD.

LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD.

BE WORKING ON A PAPER, OR BE WORKING ON A PAPER, OR READING A BOOK.

READING A BOOK.

BUT I WAS DETERMINED TO FIND A BUT I WAS DETERMINED TO FIND A WAY TO GET IN THE WAY, BECAUSE WAY TO GET IN THE WAY, BECAUSE MY MOTHER AND FATHER AND MY MY MOTHER AND FATHER AND MY GRANDPARENTS AND GREAT GRANDPARENTS AND GREAT GRANDPARENTS, I ASKED THEM GRANDPARENTS, I ASKED THEM QUESTIONS AND THEY WOULD SAY QUESTIONS AND THEY WOULD SAY DON'T GET IN TROUBLE!

DON'T GET IN TROUBLE!

THAT'S THE WAY IT IS!

THAT'S THE WAY IT IS!

DON'T GET IN TROUBLE!

DON'T GET IN TROUBLE!

BUT I WAS INSPIRED TO GET IN BUT I WAS INSPIRED TO GET IN TROUBLE AND TODAY, I CALL IT TROUBLE AND TODAY, I CALL IT GOOD TROUBLE, NECESSARY TROUBLE.

GOOD TROUBLE, NECESSARY TROUBLE.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] >> ONE OF THE THINGS I DID NOT >> ONE OF THE THINGS I DID NOT KNOW BEFORE THE BOOK CAME OUT KNOW BEFORE THE BOOK CAME OUT WAS THAT THE CONTEXT IN WHICH WAS THAT THE CONTEXT IN WHICH YOU MET DR.

KING WAS THAT YOU YOU MET DR.

KING WAS THAT YOU WROTE TO HIM AS A STUDENT IN WROTE TO HIM AS A STUDENT IN SEMINARY IN NASHVILLE SAYING SEMINARY IN NASHVILLE SAYING THAT YOU WERE FROM TROY, ALABAMA THAT YOU WERE FROM TROY, ALABAMA AND THE COLLEGE IN YOUR HOMETOWN AND THE COLLEGE IN YOUR HOMETOWN IN TROY, YOU WERE THINKING MAYBE IN TROY, YOU WERE THINKING MAYBE SHOULD BE THE TARGET OF A SHOULD BE THE TARGET OF A DESEGREGATION CAMPAIGN AND MAYBE DESEGREGATION CAMPAIGN AND MAYBE THOUGH SHOULD BE YOU.

THOUGH SHOULD BE YOU.

YOU WROTE TO DR.

KING YOU YOU WROTE TO DR.

KING YOU EVENTUALLY MET WITH DR.

KING EVENTUALLY MET WITH DR.

KING AND I SAID YOU BETTER TALK TO AND I SAID YOU BETTER TALK TO YOUR FAMILY ABOUT THIS BECAUSE YOUR FAMILY ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR THIS WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR THEM TOO.

THEM TOO.

YOUR FAMILY TOLD YOU THEY DID YOUR FAMILY TOLD YOU THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO IT.

NOT WANT TO DO IT.

WHEN YOU WERE AN 18-YEAR-OLD WHEN YOU WERE AN 18-YEAR-OLD A LIFE LONG WAY BY THAT MEETING A LIFE LONG WAY BY THAT MEETING MAN, OBVIOUSLY INSPIRED IN A MAN, OBVIOUSLY INSPIRED IN A LIFE LONG WAY BY THAT MEETING LIFE LONG WAY BY THAT MEETING WITH DR.

KING, INSPIRED ENOUGH WITH DR.

KING, INSPIRED ENOUGH TO WRITE TO HIM WITH THAT IDEA TO WRITE TO HIM WITH THAT IDEA IN THE FIRST PLACE, THIS IS IN THE FIRST PLACE, THIS IS THREE YEARS OUT FROM THE THREE YEARS OUT FROM THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT, HOW DID MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT, HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR FAMILY YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR FAMILY SAYING NO?

SAYING NO?

>> WELL, I DIDN'T LIKE THE IDEA, >> WELL, I DIDN'T LIKE THE IDEA, OF THEM SAYING NO.

OF THEM SAYING NO.

THEY KEPT SAYING YOU'RE GOING TO THEY KEPT SAYING YOU'RE GOING TO GET HURT.

GET HURT.

IF YOU GO AND GET INVOLVED, WITH IF YOU GO AND GET INVOLVED, WITH MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

AND TRY MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

AND TRY TO ENTER TROY STATE COLLEGE, WE TO ENTER TROY STATE COLLEGE, WE COULD LOSE THE LAND.

COULD LOSE THE LAND.

OUR HOME MIGHT BE BOMBED OR OUR HOME MIGHT BE BOMBED OR BURNED.

BURNED.

BUT I MET WITH DR.

KING AND I BUT I MET WITH DR.

KING AND I WENT BACK AND HAD A DISCUSSION WENT BACK AND HAD A DISCUSSION WITH MY FAMILY, AND THEY REFUSED WITH MY FAMILY, AND THEY REFUSED TO FILE A SUIT, OR BE A PARTY TO TO FILE A SUIT, OR BE A PARTY TO FILING A SUIT AGAINST THE STATE FILING A SUIT AGAINST THE STATE OF ALABAMA WITH TROY STATE SO I OF ALABAMA WITH TROY STATE SO I CONTINUED TO STUDY IN NASHVILLE.

CONTINUED TO STUDY IN NASHVILLE.

AND IN A SENSE, IT WORKED OUT AND IN A SENSE, IT WORKED OUT OKAY.

OKAY.

BECAUSE IT WAS IN NASHVILLE THAT BECAUSE IT WAS IN NASHVILLE THAT I CAME UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF I CAME UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF MAN BY THE NAME OF JIM LAWSON MAN BY THE NAME OF JIM LAWSON WHO TAUGHT US THE WAY OF WHO TAUGHT US THE WAY OF NON-VIOLENT ACTION.

NON-VIOLENT ACTION.

WE HAD ROLE PLAYING, WE HAD WE HAD ROLE PLAYING, WE HAD SOCIAL TRAMA.

SOCIAL TRAMA.

AND THIS MAN BECAME MY TEACHER.

AND THIS MAN BECAME MY TEACHER.

THERE WERE STUDENTS AT THERE WERE STUDENTS AT VANDERBILT COLLEGE, VANDERBILT VANDERBILT COLLEGE, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY, PEABODY COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, PEABODY COLLEGE, TENNESSEE STATE, FISH TENNESSEE STATE, FISH UNIVERSITY, AMERICAN BAPTIST, UNIVERSITY, AMERICAN BAPTIST, AND WE ALL GOT INVOLVED, AND WE AND WE ALL GOT INVOLVED, AND WE BECAME THE INDIVIDUALS THAT TOOK BECAME THE INDIVIDUALS THAT TOOK THE BEATINGS, WENT TO JAIL.

THE BEATINGS, WENT TO JAIL.

WE MADE UP THE FREEDOM RIDES AND WE MADE UP THE FREEDOM RIDES AND WE WENT IN TO THE MOST DIFFICULT WE WENT IN TO THE MOST DIFFICULT PLACES IN THE SOUTH, IN ALABAMA, PLACES IN THE SOUTH, IN ALABAMA, IN GEORGIA, IN MISSISSIPPI, TO IN GEORGIA, IN MISSISSIPPI, TO ATTEMPT TO GET PEOPLE REGISTERED ATTEMPT TO GET PEOPLE REGISTERED TO VOTE.

TO VOTE.

BUT SOMEBODY HAD TO DO IT.

BUT SOMEBODY HAD TO DO IT.

WE WENT ON THE FREEDOM RIDE, WE WE WENT ON THE FREEDOM RIDE, WE THOUGHT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THOUGHT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT WE WOULDN'T RETURN.

THAT WE WOULDN'T RETURN.

WE WROTE OUT OUR WILLS.

WE WROTE OUT OUR WILLS.

WE WERE PREPARED TO DIE FOR WHAT WE WERE PREPARED TO DIE FOR WHAT WE BELIEVED IN.

WE BELIEVED IN.

>> YOU HAVE WRITTEN AND SPOKEN >> YOU HAVE WRITTEN AND SPOKEN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE WITH INCREDIBLE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE WITH INCREDIBLE ELOQUENCE ABOUT NON-VIOLENCE.

ELOQUENCE ABOUT NON-VIOLENCE.

AND LEARNING ABOUT HOW JIM AND LEARNING ABOUT HOW JIM LAWSON AND THE TEACHINGS OF LAWSON AND THE TEACHINGS OF NON-VIOLENCE CAME TO YOU AT A NON-VIOLENCE CAME TO YOU AT A TIME WHEN YOU WERE STUDYING THE TIME WHEN YOU WERE STUDYING THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, YOU WERE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, YOU WERE HAVING THOSE MEETINGS IN CHURCH, HAVING THOSE MEETINGS IN CHURCH, THE DOS AND DON'TS THAT YOU THE DOS AND DON'TS THAT YOU WROTE FOR YOUR FELLOW ACTIVISTS WROTE FOR YOUR FELLOW ACTIVISTS AT THE NASHVILLE SIT-INS AND AT THE NASHVILLE SIT-INS AND DID WITH GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU.

DID WITH GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU.

OBVIOUSLY FAITH WAS AN IMPORTANT OBVIOUSLY FAITH WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WAS DRIVING YOUR PART OF WHAT WAS DRIVING YOUR DECISIONS IN LIFE, BUT WHAT WAS DECISIONS IN LIFE, BUT WHAT WAS THE RELATIONSHIP FOR YOU BETWEEN THE RELATIONSHIP FOR YOU BETWEEN THIS THIRST FOR JUSTICE THAT YOU THIS THIRST FOR JUSTICE THAT YOU HAD, AND YOUR BELIEF IN GOD, AND HAD, AND YOUR BELIEF IN GOD, AND YOUR WORK THROUGH RELIGION?

YOUR WORK THROUGH RELIGION?

I MEAN, I'M FROM A VERY CATHOLIC I MEAN, I'M FROM A VERY CATHOLIC FAMILY AND I HAVE NOT ABANDONED FAMILY AND I HAVE NOT ABANDONED THE CHURCH BUT FOR ME MY OWN THE CHURCH BUT FOR ME MY OWN FEELINGS ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE FEELINGS ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE ARE OFTEN AT ODDS WITH MY ARE OFTEN AT ODDS WITH MY CHURCH.

CHURCH.

FOR YOU -- ESPECIALLY GROWING UP FOR YOU -- ESPECIALLY GROWING UP AS A GAY PERSON.

AS A GAY PERSON.

BUT FOR YOU IT SEEM LIKE FAITH BUT FOR YOU IT SEEM LIKE FAITH IN CHRIST AND FAITH IN YOUR IN CHRIST AND FAITH IN YOUR CHURCH COMMUNITY, DOVETAIL MORE CHURCH COMMUNITY, DOVETAIL MORE WITH YOUR SENSE OF JUSTICE.

WITH YOUR SENSE OF JUSTICE.

>> I HAD SOME QUESTIONS.

>> I HAD SOME QUESTIONS.

I QUESTIONED WHEN I SAW THOSE I QUESTIONED WHEN I SAW THOSE SIGNS AND SEGREGATION AND RACIAL SIGNS AND SEGREGATION AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND I FELT THE DISCRIMINATION AND I FELT THE STING OF RACISM, I WANTED TO SAY STING OF RACISM, I WANTED TO SAY "WHERE IS GOD?"

"WHERE IS GOD?"

AND I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION AND I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE HAVE TO HELP GOD.

THAT WE HAVE TO HELP GOD.

WE HAD TO BE HELPERS.

WE HAD TO BE HELPERS.

WE HAD TO INTERVENE AND I WE HAD TO INTERVENE AND I STARTED PREACHING OR TRYING TO STARTED PREACHING OR TRYING TO PREACH THE SOCIAL GOSPEL.

PREACH THE SOCIAL GOSPEL.

THAT IT WAS LEFT UP TO US TO THAT IT WAS LEFT UP TO US TO LIBERATE PEOPLE.

LIBERATE PEOPLE.

HERE ON EARTH, HERE ON THIS HERE ON EARTH, HERE ON THIS PLANET.

PLANET.

BUT AS YOU SAID DOs AND BUT AS YOU SAID DOs AND DON'TS.

DON'TS.

AT THE END WE SAID REMEMBER THE AT THE END WE SAID REMEMBER THE TEACHING OF JESUS, GANDHI, TEACHING OF JESUS, GANDHI, THOREAU, MARTIN LUTHER KING.

THOREAU, MARTIN LUTHER KING.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

IT WAS DISBELIEF, THIS WHATEVER, IT WAS DISBELIEF, THIS WHATEVER, IT IS ALREADY DONE.

IT IS ALREADY DONE.

WE HAVE TO ACTUALIZE IT.

WE HAVE TO ACTUALIZE IT.

WE HAD TO MAKE IT REAL.

WE HAD TO MAKE IT REAL.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE LONG HARD YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE LONG HARD LOOK AND BELIEVE THAT JUSTICE IS LOOK AND BELIEVE THAT JUSTICE IS GOING TO PREVAIL BUT YOU HAVE TO GOING TO PREVAIL BUT YOU HAVE TO HELP JUSTICE PREVAIL.

HELP JUSTICE PREVAIL.

THE FAIRNESS IS ALL GOING TO THE FAIRNESS IS ALL GOING TO WORK OUT, IT IS ALL GOING TO BE WORK OUT, IT IS ALL GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU GET OUT THERE AND AFTER YOU YOU GET OUT THERE AND AFTER YOU SAY YOUR PRAYERS, YOU GET UP SAY YOUR PRAYERS, YOU GET UP THERE AND MOVE YOUR FEET.

THERE AND MOVE YOUR FEET.

YOU GET UP AND MAKE SOME NOISE.

YOU GET UP AND MAKE SOME NOISE.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] >> THE ACT OF NON-VIOLENT >> THE ACT OF NON-VIOLENT RESISTANCE IN THE FACE OF ABUSE RESISTANCE IN THE FACE OF ABUSE AND VIOLENCE IS UNNATURAL.

AND VIOLENCE IS UNNATURAL.

I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ALL HUMANITY.

I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ALL HUMANITY.

I KNOW JUST FROM MY OWN LIVED I KNOW JUST FROM MY OWN LIVED EXPERIENCES AS A HUMAN, IT IS -- EXPERIENCES AS A HUMAN, IT IS -- YOU HAVE TO SUPPRESS A VERY YOU HAVE TO SUPPRESS A VERY POWERFUL INSTINCT TO NOT HIT POWERFUL INSTINCT TO NOT HIT BACK OR AT LEAST RESIST WHEN BACK OR AT LEAST RESIST WHEN SOMEBODY IS HITTING YOU.

SOMEBODY IS HITTING YOU.

HOW DO YOU DEFEAT THAT INSTINCT?

HOW DO YOU DEFEAT THAT INSTINCT?

HOW DID I TRAIN YOURSELF WHEN HOW DID I TRAIN YOURSELF WHEN YOU SAW THOSE TROOPERS COMING AT YOU SAW THOSE TROOPERS COMING AT YOU ON THE PETTUS BRIDGE IN YOU ON THE PETTUS BRIDGE IN 1965, HOW DID YOU TRAIN YOURSELF 1965, HOW DID YOU TRAIN YOURSELF THE THING TO DO WAS TO GET ON THE THING TO DO WAS TO GET ON YOUR KNEES AND PRAY AND NOT YOUR KNEES AND PRAY AND NOT RESIST.

RESIST.

HOW DO YOU TRAIN YOURSELF TO NOT HOW DO YOU TRAIN YOURSELF TO NOT HIT BACK?

HIT BACK?

>> WHEN THE STATE TROOPER >> WHEN THE STATE TROOPER COMMANDER SAID, "I'M MAJOR JOHN COMMANDER SAID, "I'M MAJOR JOHN CLOWEL OF THE ALABAMA STATE CLOWEL OF THE ALABAMA STATE TROOPERS.

TROOPERS.

THIS MARCH WILL NOT BE ALLOWED THIS MARCH WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE.

TO CONTINUE.

YOU MUST RETURN TO YOUR HOMES, YOU MUST RETURN TO YOUR HOMES, OR TO YOUR CHURCH."

OR TO YOUR CHURCH."

JOSE WILLIAMS WALKING WITH ME JOSE WILLIAMS WALKING WITH ME SAID "MAJOR, GIVE US A MOMENT TO SAID "MAJOR, GIVE US A MOMENT TO KNEEL AND PRAY."

KNEEL AND PRAY."

AND BEFORE WE CAN PASS WORDS AND BEFORE WE CAN PASS WORDS BACK TO THE 600 INDIVIDUALS TO BACK TO THE 600 INDIVIDUALS TO KNEEL AND PRAY, KNEEL AND PRAY, THE MAJOR SAID "TROOPERS THE MAJOR SAID "TROOPERS ADVANCE."

ADVANCE."

AND THOSE GUYS STARTED PUTTING AND THOSE GUYS STARTED PUTTING ON THE GAS MASKS.

ON THE GAS MASKS.

THEY CAME TOWARD US BEATING US THEY CAME TOWARD US BEATING US WITH NIGHT STICKS, BULL WHIPS, WITH NIGHT STICKS, BULL WHIPS, TRAMPLING WAS HORSES AND TRAMPLING WAS HORSES AND RELEASING THE TEAR GAS.

RELEASING THE TEAR GAS.

AND I WAS HIT IN THE HEAD BY A AND I WAS HIT IN THE HEAD BY A STATE TROOPER WITH A NIGHT STATE TROOPER WITH A NIGHT STICK.

STICK.

I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE.

I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE.

I THOUGHT I SAW DEATH.

I THOUGHT I SAW DEATH.

AND I SAID TO MYSELF, THIS MAY AND I SAID TO MYSELF, THIS MAY BE IT.

BE IT.

THIS MAY BE MY LAST PROTEST.

THIS MAY BE MY LAST PROTEST.

BUT I WAS WONDERING, WHAT IS BUT I WAS WONDERING, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ALL OF THE GOING TO HAPPEN TO ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE?

OTHER PEOPLE?

BUT SOMEHOW I HAD FAITH THAT BUT SOMEHOW I HAD FAITH THAT SOME WAY, AND SOMEHOW, WE WOULD SOME WAY, AND SOMEHOW, WE WOULD SUCCEED.

SUCCEED.

WHEN YOU ACCEPT NON-VIOLENCE AS WHEN YOU ACCEPT NON-VIOLENCE AS A WAY OF LIFE AND AS A WAY OF A WAY OF LIFE AND AS A WAY OF LIVING, YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE LIVING, YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE POINT AND SO WHATEVER HAPPENED, POINT AND SO WHATEVER HAPPENED, I'M NOT GOING TO HATE BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO HATE BECAUSE HATE IS TOO HEAVY A BURDEN TO HATE IS TOO HEAVY A BURDEN TO BEAR.

BEAR.

AND YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO AND YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO RESPECT THE DIGNITY.

RESPECT THE DIGNITY.

JIM LAWSON WOULD TELL US FROM JIM LAWSON WOULD TELL US FROM TIME TO TIME, SEE YOUR OPPONENT, TIME TO TIME, SEE YOUR OPPONENT, SEE YOUR OPPOSITION AS A LITTLE SEE YOUR OPPOSITION AS A LITTLE CHILD, AS A LITTLE BABY, WHEN CHILD, AS A LITTLE BABY, WHEN YOU COME INTO THIS WORLD, WE ARE YOU COME INTO THIS WORLD, WE ARE LITTLE CHILDREN, WE ARE LITTLE LITTLE CHILDREN, WE ARE LITTLE BABIES.

BABIES.

AND WE'RE SO INNOCENT.

AND WE'RE SO INNOCENT.

AND SOMEONE TURNS TO TEACH AND SOMEONE TURNS TO TEACH PEOPLE TO PUT SOMEONE DOWN, PEOPLE TO PUT SOMEONE DOWN, BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE, THEIR BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE, THEIR COLOR, THEIR NATIONALITY.

COLOR, THEIR NATIONALITY.

OR BECAUSE OF SEXUAL OR BECAUSE OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

ORIENTATION.

BECAUSE THEY MAY BE AN BECAUSE THEY MAY BE AN IMMIGRANT.

IMMIGRANT.

AND YOU HAVE TO RESPECT EVERY AND YOU HAVE TO RESPECT EVERY HUMAN BEING.

HUMAN BEING.

IN MY RELIGIOUS TRADITION, I IN MY RELIGIOUS TRADITION, I WOULD SAY THAT IN EVERY PERSON, WOULD SAY THAT IN EVERY PERSON, EVERY HUMAN BEING, THERE IS A EVERY HUMAN BEING, THERE IS A SPARK OF THE DIVINE.

SPARK OF THE DIVINE.

AND YOU CANNOT ABUSE THAT SPARK.

AND YOU CANNOT ABUSE THAT SPARK.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW AND DOCUMENTED, ONE OF THINGS AND DOCUMENTED, ONE OF THINGS THAT YOU TAUGHT ONE ANOTHER IN THAT YOU TAUGHT ONE ANOTHER IN TRAINING TO ENDURE A BEATING AND TRAINING TO ENDURE A BEATING AND NOT HIT BACK, TO NOT CURSE, TO NOT HIT BACK, TO NOT CURSE, TO NOT RESIST, WAS TO TRY TO MAKE NOT RESIST, WAS TO TRY TO MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH THE PERSON WHO EYE CONTACT WITH THE PERSON WHO IS ABUSING YOU.

IS ABUSING YOU.

>> YES.

>> YES.

YES.

YES.

>> COULD YOU ACTUALLY DO THAT IN >> COULD YOU ACTUALLY DO THAT IN THE MOMENT, AND WHY DO IT?

THE MOMENT, AND WHY DO IT?

>> THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT.

>> THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT.

THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT.

THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT.

TO JUST LOOK THAT PERSON, JUST TO JUST LOOK THAT PERSON, JUST LOOK.

LOOK.

GET THAT PERSON TO LOOK AT YOU.

GET THAT PERSON TO LOOK AT YOU.

TO SEE YOU AS A FELLOW HUMAN TO SEE YOU AS A FELLOW HUMAN BEING.

BEING.

AND JUST MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, YOU AND JUST MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, YOU WOULD WIN THAT PERSON OVER.

WOULD WIN THAT PERSON OVER.

OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE HAD SO OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE HAD SO MANY INDIVIDUALS IN BIRMINGHAM, MANY INDIVIDUALS IN BIRMINGHAM, NASHVILLE, MONTGOMERY, COME UP NASHVILLE, MONTGOMERY, COME UP AND SAY, "JOHN, I'M SORRY," AND SAY, "JOHN, I'M SORRY," MR.

LEWIS, I'M SORRY."

MR.

LEWIS, I'M SORRY."

"CONGRESSMAN I'M SORRY, I WANT "CONGRESSMAN I'M SORRY, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR WHAT WE DID."

TO APOLOGIZE FOR WHAT WE DID."

SOMETIMES WE TAKE PEOPLE A SOMETIMES WE TAKE PEOPLE A LITTLE TIME TO GET IT.

LITTLE TIME TO GET IT.

BUT THEY GET IT.

BUT THEY GET IT.

[ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] >> YOU WERE NOT JUST A PERSON >> YOU WERE NOT JUST A PERSON WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE MOVEMENT, YOU WERE LEADER, AND MOVEMENT, YOU WERE LEADER, AND IN A VERY DIRECT SENSE AN IN A VERY DIRECT SENSE AN ORGANIZER.

ORGANIZER.

YOU GOT OTHER PEOPLE TO ALSO DO YOU GOT OTHER PEOPLE TO ALSO DO THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO DO YOURSELF COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO DO YOURSELF AND STARTING WITH THE NASHVILLE AND STARTING WITH THE NASHVILLE SIT-INS ON TO THE FREEDOM RIDES SIT-INS ON TO THE FREEDOM RIDES AND OVER THAT BRIDGE IN SELMA AND OVER THAT BRIDGE IN SELMA AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, YOU AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, YOU WERE ABLE TO CONVINCE PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT IT WAS THEIR FIGHT TOO AND THAT IT WAS THEIR FIGHT TOO AND THAT THEY SHOULD DO WHAT YOU THAT THEY SHOULD DO WHAT YOU WERE BRAVE ENOUGH TO DO.

WERE BRAVE ENOUGH TO DO.

HOW DID YOU DO IT?

HOW DID YOU DO IT?

HOW WERE YOU A GOOD ORGANIZER?

HOW WERE YOU A GOOD ORGANIZER?

>> WELL, IF YOU'RE A GOOD >> WELL, IF YOU'RE A GOOD ORGANIZER, IF YOU'RE A LEADER, ORGANIZER, IF YOU'RE A LEADER, YOU MUST BE ABLE TO ORGANIZE YOU MUST BE ABLE TO ORGANIZE YOURSELF AND OTHERS.

YOURSELF AND OTHERS.

YOU MUST CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT YOU MUST CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT THIS IS WORTH THE PAIN, THE THIS IS WORTH THE PAIN, THE SUFFERING, THE STRUGGLE.

SUFFERING, THE STRUGGLE.

AND GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND AND GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE STRUGGLE IS NOT A THAT THE STRUGGLE IS NOT A STRUGGLE THAT LASTS FOR ONE DAY STRUGGLE THAT LASTS FOR ONE DAY OR A FEW WEEK OR A FEW MONTHS OR OR A FEW WEEK OR A FEW MONTHS OR A FEW YEARS.

A FEW YEARS.

IT MAY BE A STRUGGLE OF A IT MAY BE A STRUGGLE OF A LIFETIME, BUT STRUGGLE YOU MUST.

LIFETIME, BUT STRUGGLE YOU MUST.

MEMBER OF THE PRESS WOULD COME MEMBER OF THE PRESS WOULD COME UP WHEN I WAS MUCH YOUNGER AND UP WHEN I WAS MUCH YOUNGER AND SAY, ARE YOU ONE OF THE LEADERS?

SAY, ARE YOU ONE OF THE LEADERS?

I WAS THE PARTICIPANT.

I WAS THE PARTICIPANT.

I'M JUST ONE OF THE I'M JUST ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS.

PARTICIPANTS.

BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE A BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE A SPOKESPERSON, A LEADER OF A SPOKESPERSON, A LEADER OF A GROUP, YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED GROUP, YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO LEAD.

TO LEAD.

YOU CANNOT TELL PEOPLE TO GO YOU CANNOT TELL PEOPLE TO GO SOMEPLACE, THAT YOU HAVE NOT SOMEPLACE, THAT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN.

BEEN.

>> I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW YOU AS A >> I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW YOU AS A YOUNG MAN, 18 WHEN YOU MET YOUNG MAN, 18 WHEN YOU MET DR.

KING, YOU WERE 20 I THINK DR.

KING, YOU WERE 20 I THINK WHEN YOU FIRST GOT ARRESTED IN WHEN YOU FIRST GOT ARRESTED IN NASHVILLE.

NASHVILLE.

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> AND THINKING BACK AT THE >> AND THINKING BACK AT THE OTHER PARTICIPANTS IN THOSE OTHER PARTICIPANTS IN THOSE SIT-INS, IT WASN'T JUST YOUNG SIT-INS, IT WASN'T JUST YOUNG MEN, IT WAS ALSO YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN, IT WAS ALSO YOUNG WOMEN AND THINKING BACK AT WHAT HAPPENED THINKING BACK AT WHAT HAPPENED ON THE PETTUS BRIDGE.

ON THE PETTUS BRIDGE.

THERE WERE A LOT OF VERY YOUNG THERE WERE A LOT OF VERY YOUNG PEOPLE THERE.

PEOPLE THERE.

YOU WERE IN YOUR 20S BY THEN YOU WERE IN YOUR 20S BY THEN BUT THERE WERE TEENAGERS IN THAT BUT THERE WERE TEENAGERS IN THAT MARCH, 600 STRONG, A LOT OF MARCH, 600 STRONG, A LOT OF WOMEN IN THAT MARCH.

WOMEN IN THAT MARCH.

>> AND CHILDREN.

>> AND CHILDREN.

A LOT OF WOMEN.

A LOT OF WOMEN.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE WOMEN AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE WOMEN THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE MOVEMENT HAVE EVER RECEIVED MOVEMENT HAVE EVER RECEIVED THEIR DUE.

THEIR DUE.

BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF MALE BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF MALE CHAUVINISM.

CHAUVINISM.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] WITHOUT WOMEN THERE PROBABLY WITHOUT WOMEN THERE PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A MONTGOMERY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT.

BUS BOYCOTT.

NOT JUST ROSA PARKS BUT ONE OF NOT JUST ROSA PARKS BUT ONE OF THE WOMEN THAT PLAYED SUCH A THE WOMEN THAT PLAYED SUCH A ROLE AND HAPPENED TO ORGANIZE ROLE AND HAPPENED TO ORGANIZE THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT.

THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT.

SHE WAS A TEACHER AT A COLLEGE, SHE WAS A TEACHER AT A COLLEGE, ALABAMA STATE COLLEGE.

ALABAMA STATE COLLEGE.

AND SHE STAYED UP ALMOST ALL AND SHE STAYED UP ALMOST ALL NIGHT TYPING ON A PORTABLE NIGHT TYPING ON A PORTABLE TYPEWRITER AND USING OLD TYPEWRITER AND USING OLD MIMEOGRAPH MACHINE AND HAVING MIMEOGRAPH MACHINE AND HAVING THE PAPER CUT OUT.

THE PAPER CUT OUT.

GETTING HER STUDENTS TO GO GETTING HER STUDENTS TO GO THROUGH THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN THROUGH THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO PASS OUT THE COMMUNITY TO PASS OUT THE LEAFLETS TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO LEAFLETS TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO RIDE THE BUSES.

RIDE THE BUSES.

IT WAS THE YOUNG, THE YOUNG IT WAS THE YOUNG, THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN NASHVILLE, THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN NASHVILLE, THE YOUNG LADY WHO HEADED THE NASHVILLE LADY WHO HEADED THE NASHVILLE STUDENT MOVEMENT WAS DIANE NASH, STUDENT MOVEMENT WAS DIANE NASH, A STUDENT AT FISH UNIVERSITY.

A STUDENT AT FISH UNIVERSITY.

WOMEN PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE.

WOMEN PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE.

AND YOUNG PEOPLE, EVEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE, EVEN ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPATED.

HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPATED.

EVEN YOU HAD YOUNG PEOPLE IN EVEN YOU HAD YOUNG PEOPLE IN SELMA SAYING "I'M NOT OLD ENOUGH SELMA SAYING "I'M NOT OLD ENOUGH TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

BUT LET MY TEACHER REGISTER TO BUT LET MY TEACHER REGISTER TO VOTE.

VOTE.

LET MY MOTHER AND MY FATHER AND LET MY MOTHER AND MY FATHER AND MY GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDFATHER MY GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDFATHER REGISTER TO VOTE."

REGISTER TO VOTE."

>> YOUR OWN PARENTS DID NOT >> YOUR OWN PARENTS DID NOT REGISTER TO VOTE UNTIL THE REGISTER TO VOTE UNTIL THE 1970s?

1970s?

>> THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO >> THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE UNTIL AFTER THE REGISTER TO VOTE UNTIL AFTER THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT WAS PASSED.

VOTING RIGHTS ACT WAS PASSED.

MY MOTHER WHO HAD OPPOSED MY MY MOTHER WHO HAD OPPOSED MY INVOLVEMENT IN THE MOVEMENT, INVOLVEMENT IN THE MOVEMENT, WHEN THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT WAS WHEN THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT WAS PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW ON PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW ON AUGUST 6, 1965, BY LYNDON AUGUST 6, 1965, BY LYNDON JOHNSON, SHE WAS SO HAPPY.

JOHNSON, SHE WAS SO HAPPY.

MY FATHER SO HAPPY.

MY FATHER SO HAPPY.

MY GRANDFATHER.

MY GRANDFATHER.

THEY WERE ABLE TO REGISTER TO THEY WERE ABLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> JUST THINK ABOUT THOSE GENDER >> JUST THINK ABOUT THOSE GENDER DYNAMICS AND INTERGENERATIONAL DYNAMICS AND INTERGENERATIONAL DYNAMICS.

DYNAMICS.

EVEN THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN THIS EVEN THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN THIS YOUNG BRAVE ACTIVIST LIKE YOUNG BRAVE ACTIVIST LIKE YOURSELF AND THE IMMEDIATE YOURSELF AND THE IMMEDIATE PREDECESSORS LIKE THE THURGOOD PREDECESSORS LIKE THE THURGOOD MARSHALLS AND THE PEOPLE WHO MARSHALLS AND THE PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT FOR THE DESEGREGATION FOUGHT FOR THE DESEGREGATION ORDERS AND YOU WERE FIGHTING FOR ORDERS AND YOU WERE FIGHTING FOR THE COUNTRY TO LIVE.

THE COUNTRY TO LIVE.

IT IS HARD TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT IS HARD TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THOSE THINGS WITHOUT REMEMBERING THOSE THINGS WITHOUT REMEMBERING THE PERSONAL VIOLENCE THAT YOU THE PERSONAL VIOLENCE THAT YOU SUFFERED AND HAVING YOUR SKULL SUFFERED AND HAVING YOUR SKULL FRACTURED.

FRACTURED.

AND KNOWING THAT YOU SUFFERED AND KNOWING THAT YOU SUFFERED VIOLENCE OVER AND OVER AGAIN VIOLENCE OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT MORE THAN ONCE, YOU THOUGHT THAT MORE THAN ONCE, YOU THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE GOING DIE BECAUSE THAT YOU WERE GOING DIE BECAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE THAT YOU WERE OF THE VIOLENCE THAT YOU WERE SUFFERING IN THAT MOMENT.

SUFFERING IN THAT MOMENT.

DID IT MAKE IT HARDER TO KEEP DID IT MAKE IT HARDER TO KEEP DOING IT KNOWING THERE WERE DOING IT KNOWING THERE WERE GOING TO BE LITTLE KIDS AT EVERY GOING TO BE LITTLE KIDS AT EVERY PROTEST THAT YOU ORGANIZED.

PROTEST THAT YOU ORGANIZED.

THAT AT YOUR MARCH YOU WERE NOT THAT AT YOUR MARCH YOU WERE NOT JUST VOLUNTEERING FOR IT JUST VOLUNTEERING FOR IT YOURSELF, IT WAS COMING DOWN ON YOURSELF, IT WAS COMING DOWN ON ALL OF YOU INCLUDING THE WOMEN, ALL OF YOU INCLUDING THE WOMEN, THE LITTLE KIDS WITH YOU.

THE LITTLE KIDS WITH YOU.

HOW DID THAT WORK IN YOUR MIND?

HOW DID THAT WORK IN YOUR MIND?

>> I WAS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT >> I WAS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG CHILDREN, DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE WOMEN, EVEN ON THE MARCH FROM WOMEN, EVEN ON THE MARCH FROM SELMA TO MONTGOMERY.

SELMA TO MONTGOMERY.

FOR THE MOST PART, WE PUT THE FOR THE MOST PART, WE PUT THE MEN UP FRONT.

MEN UP FRONT.

WE HAD THE YOUNG PEOPLE MAYBE WE HAD THE YOUNG PEOPLE MAYBE MIDDLE.

MIDDLE.

WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE ARRESTED, THAT WE WERE GOING TO ARRESTED, THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE TAKEN TO JAIL, BUT WE THOUGHT BE TAKEN TO JAIL, BUT WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A POSSIBILITY OF THAT IT WAS A POSSIBILITY OF VIOLENCE.

VIOLENCE.

I REMEMBER ONE YOUNG MAN WAS A I REMEMBER ONE YOUNG MAN WAS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, IN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

HE WANTED TO BE A PART OF THE HE WANTED TO BE A PART OF THE MOVEMENT.

MOVEMENT.

HE WANTED TO PROTEST, HE WANTED HE WANTED TO PROTEST, HE WANTED TO COME DOWNTOWN AND SIT IN.

TO COME DOWNTOWN AND SIT IN.

ON THE LUNCH COUNTER STOOL.

ON THE LUNCH COUNTER STOOL.

AND HE TOLD ME OVER AND OVER AND HE TOLD ME OVER AND OVER AGAIN HIS MOTHER SAID, YOU CAN AGAIN HIS MOTHER SAID, YOU CAN GO, IF YOU GO WITH JOHN LEWIS.

GO, IF YOU GO WITH JOHN LEWIS.

AND THIS YOUNG GUY BECAME A AND THIS YOUNG GUY BECAME A PARTICIPANT, FINISHED HIGH PARTICIPANT, FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE.

SCHOOL, COLLEGE.

BECAME A GREAT JOURNALIST.

BECAME A GREAT JOURNALIST.

HE'S RETIRED NOW.

HE'S RETIRED NOW.

BUT I SEE HIM, AND HE THANKED ME BUT I SEE HIM, AND HE THANKED ME BECAUSE HE SAID, HIS BECAUSE HE SAID, HIS PARTICIPATION FREED AND PARTICIPATION FREED AND LIBERATED HIM.

LIBERATED HIM.

>> YOU WERE ARRESTED RECENTLY, I >> YOU WERE ARRESTED RECENTLY, I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS YOUR 45TH BELIEVE THAT IT WAS YOUR 45TH ARREST.

ARREST.

[ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] YOU GOT ARRESTED IN A PROTEST YOU GOT ARRESTED IN A PROTEST FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM.

FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM.

WHY DID YOU PROTEST FOR THAT AND WHY DID YOU PROTEST FOR THAT AND WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GET WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GET ARRESTED?

ARRESTED?

>> WELL, I FELT IT WAS THE RIGHT >> WELL, I FELT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

THING TO DO.

[ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] TO DRAMATIZE THE ISSUE.

TO DRAMATIZE THE ISSUE.

PEOPLE WOULD ASK ME IN PEOPLE WOULD ASK ME IN NASHVILLE, BACK IN 1960, 1961 NASHVILLE, BACK IN 1960, 1961 DURING THE FREEDOM RIDE OF MY DURING THE FREEDOM RIDE OF MY INVOLVEMENT IN MISSISSIPPI, AND INVOLVEMENT IN MISSISSIPPI, AND OTHER PARTS IN 1964, THE MARCH, OTHER PARTS IN 1964, THE MARCH, WHY?

WHY?

WHY SHOULD WE?

WHY SHOULD WE?

WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO DRAMATIZE THE ISSUE.

DRAMATIZE THE ISSUE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT CONGRESS BRING UP THE BILL TO CONGRESS BRING UP THE BILL TO PASS COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION PASS COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM.

REFORM.

I GOT A TELEPHONE CALL FROM I GOT A TELEPHONE CALL FROM SOMEONE AFTER I GOT ARRESTED AND SOMEONE AFTER I GOT ARRESTED AND WAS RELEASED.

WAS RELEASED.

SAID WHY ARE YOU PROTESTING?

SAID WHY ARE YOU PROTESTING?

THOSE FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE ALL THOSE FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.

RIGHT.

AND I SAID -- THEY WERE TALKING AND I SAID -- THEY WERE TALKING TO MY STAFF AND JUST REALLY TO MY STAFF AND JUST REALLY ARGUING WITH MY STAFF.

ARGUING WITH MY STAFF.

AND THEY SAID THE CONGRESS AND THEY SAID THE CONGRESS PERSON IS HERE AND HE WOULD LIKE PERSON IS HERE AND HE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK YOU TO.

TO SPEAK YOU TO.

I SAID WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

I SAID WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

I SAID YOU FROM GEORGIA?

I SAID YOU FROM GEORGIA?

NO.

NO.

AND THE LADY WENT ON AND ON.

AND THE LADY WENT ON AND ON.

AND I SAID LET ME SAY THIS TO, AND I SAID LET ME SAY THIS TO, TO YOU, MA'AM.

TO YOU, MA'AM.

I APPRECIATE YOUR CALL, BUT WHEN I APPRECIATE YOUR CALL, BUT WHEN I GOT ARRESTED THE FIRST TIME I GOT ARRESTED THE FIRST TIME SITTING AT THE LUNCH COUNTER, I SITTING AT THE LUNCH COUNTER, I WASN'T SITTING THERE JUST FOR WASN'T SITTING THERE JUST FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

WHEN I WAS BEATEN ON THAT WHEN I WAS BEATEN ON THAT BRIDGE, WHEN I WAS BEATEN AT BRIDGE, WHEN I WAS BEATEN AT THAT GREYHOUND BUS STATION IN THAT GREYHOUND BUS STATION IN MONTGOMERY, I WAS BEATEN FOR ALL MONTGOMERY, I WAS BEATEN FOR ALL PEOPLE.

PEOPLE.

AND I WENT ON TO SAY, WE'RE ONE AND I WENT ON TO SAY, WE'RE ONE PEOPLE.

PEOPLE.

WE'RE ONE FAMILY.

WE'RE ONE FAMILY.

AND WE'VE GOT TO LOOK OUT FOR AND WE'VE GOT TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER, EACH ONE.

EACH OTHER, EACH ONE.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] IF ANY ONE OF US HURTING, WE ARE IF ANY ONE OF US HURTING, WE ARE ALL HURTING.

ALL HURTING.

ONE OF US IS SUFFERING, WE ARE ONE OF US IS SUFFERING, WE ARE ALL SUFFERING.

ALL SUFFERING.

>> WHAT WERE YOUR PARENTS' LIVES >> WHAT WERE YOUR PARENTS' LIVES LIKE?

LIKE?

>> MY MOTHER AND FATHER BACK IN >> MY MOTHER AND FATHER BACK IN 1944 WHEN I WAS 4 YEARS OLD AND 1944 WHEN I WAS 4 YEARS OLD AND I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS 4, THEY I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS 4, THEY HAD SAVED -- THEY HAD BEEN HAD SAVED -- THEY HAD BEEN SHARECROPPERS, TENANT FARMERS SHARECROPPERS, TENANT FARMERS AND RENTED A SHOTGUN HOUSE WHERE AND RENTED A SHOTGUN HOUSE WHERE I WAS BORN.

I WAS BORN.

MY OLDER BROTHER AND OLDER MY OLDER BROTHER AND OLDER SISTER WERE BORN IN THAT HOUSE SISTER WERE BORN IN THAT HOUSE BUT THEY MOVED TO THEIR OWN BUT THEY MOVED TO THEIR OWN LAND.

LAND.

THEY WORKED HARD, VERY, VERY THEY WORKED HARD, VERY, VERY HARD.

HARD.

AND I USED TO COMPLAIN, AND I USED TO COMPLAIN, I USED TO COMPLAIN.

I USED TO COMPLAIN.

I USED TO -- NOT ARGUE WITH THEM I USED TO -- NOT ARGUE WITH THEM BUT I WAS THEIR -- JUST LIKE YOU BUT I WAS THEIR -- JUST LIKE YOU WORK SO HARD AND YOU PLANT A WORK SO HARD AND YOU PLANT A CROP, AND THE END OF THE YEAR CROP, AND THE END OF THE YEAR YOU GO DEEPER AND DEEPER DEBT YOU GO DEEPER AND DEEPER DEBT AND MY MOTHER WOULD SAY, MY AND MY MOTHER WOULD SAY, MY MIDDLE NAME IS ROBERT.

MIDDLE NAME IS ROBERT.

SHE WOULD SAY, "ROBERT, THAT'S SHE WOULD SAY, "ROBERT, THAT'S ALL WE KNOW WHAT TO DO.

ALL WE KNOW WHAT TO DO.

ALL WE KNOW TO DO.

ALL WE KNOW TO DO.

SHE SAID WHAT ELSE ARE WE GOING SHE SAID WHAT ELSE ARE WE GOING TO DO?"

TO DO?"

BUT THEY WERE SO PROUD THAT I BUT THEY WERE SO PROUD THAT I WENT AWAY TO COLLEGE.

WENT AWAY TO COLLEGE.

I WAS THE FIRST MEMBER OF MY I WAS THE FIRST MEMBER OF MY FAMILY TO GO OFF TO COLLEGE.

FAMILY TO GO OFF TO COLLEGE.

AND TO GET A COLLEGE DEGREE.

AND TO GET A COLLEGE DEGREE.

BUT THEY WORRIED ABOUT ME.

BUT THEY WORRIED ABOUT ME.

>> DID THEY THINK THAT YOU WERE >> DID THEY THINK THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BECOME A MINISTER?

GOING TO BECOME A MINISTER?

DID YOU THINK YOU WERE GOING TO DID YOU THINK YOU WERE GOING TO BECOME A MINISTER?

BECOME A MINISTER?

>> THEY THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING >> THEY THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO BECOME A MINISTER WAS PEOPLE TO BECOME A MINISTER WAS PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY CALLED MY BOY IN THE COMMUNITY CALLED MY BOY PREACHER.

PREACHER.

I WAS PREACHING ALL THE TIME.

I WAS PREACHING ALL THE TIME.

[ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] BUT, YOU KNOW, I MUST TELL YOU, BUT, YOU KNOW, I MUST TELL YOU, MUCH EARLIER WHEN I WAS ONLY 7, MUCH EARLIER WHEN I WAS ONLY 7, 8 OR 9 YEARS OLD ON THE FARM, IT 8 OR 9 YEARS OLD ON THE FARM, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE FOR IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE FOR THE CHICKENS AND RAISE THE THE CHICKENS AND RAISE THE BUT, YOU KNOW, I MUST TELL YOU, BUT, YOU KNOW, I MUST TELL YOU, CHICKENS.

CHICKENS.

AND WE DESCRIBE IN THIS BOOK AS AND WE DESCRIBE IN THIS BOOK AS A LITTLE BOY, I WOULD GATHER ALL A LITTLE BOY, I WOULD GATHER ALL OF OUR CHICKENS TOGETHER, IN THE OF OUR CHICKENS TOGETHER, IN THE CHICKEN YARD, AND MY COUSINS AND CHICKEN YARD, AND MY COUSINS AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS WOULD LINE BROTHERS AND SISTERS WOULD LINE THE OUTSIDE OF CHICKEN YARD, BUT THE OUTSIDE OF CHICKEN YARD, BUT THEY HELPED TO MAKE UP THE THEY HELPED TO MAKE UP THE CONGREGATION.

CONGREGATION.

[ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] >> THESE ARE LUCKY CHICKENS.

>> THESE ARE LUCKY CHICKENS.

>> YES.

>> YES.

AND I WOULD START SPEAKING, AND I WOULD START SPEAKING, PREACHING AND I LOOK BACK AND PREACHING AND I LOOK BACK AND SOME OF THE CHICKENS WOULD BOW SOME OF THE CHICKENS WOULD BOW THEIR HEADS.

THEIR HEADS.

[ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] REALLY, THAT'S JUST TRUE.

REALLY, THAT'S JUST TRUE.

THEY WOULD NEVER QUITE SAY AMEN.

THEY WOULD NEVER QUITE SAY AMEN.

[ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] BUT I'M CONVINCED THAT SOME OF BUT I'M CONVINCED THAT SOME OF THOSE CHICKENS THAT I PREACHED THOSE CHICKENS THAT I PREACHED TO IN THE '40S AND '50S TEND TO IN THE '40S AND '50S TEND TO LISTEN TO ME MUCH BETTER THAN TO LISTEN TO ME MUCH BETTER THAN SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES LISTEN TO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES LISTEN TO ME TODAY IN CONGRESS.

ME TODAY IN CONGRESS.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] [ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] >> I KNOW THIS IS A LITTLE WEIRD >> I KNOW THIS IS A LITTLE WEIRD BUT WHY DO YOU THINK YOU LIKED BUT WHY DO YOU THINK YOU LIKED THE CHICKENS MORE THAN THE OTHER THE CHICKENS MORE THAN THE OTHER ANIMALS?

ANIMALS?

YOU WEREN'T TALKING TO THE COWS.

YOU WEREN'T TALKING TO THE COWS.

>> NO, I DIDN'T TALK TO THE >> NO, I DIDN'T TALK TO THE COWS.

COWS.

I SAW THE CHICKENS AS INNOCENT I SAW THE CHICKENS AS INNOCENT CREATURES.

CREATURES.

REALLY, I BECAME VERY GOOD AT REALLY, I BECAME VERY GOOD AT RAISING CHICKENS.

RAISING CHICKENS.

I WOULD TAKE THE FRESH EGGS, AND I WOULD TAKE THE FRESH EGGS, AND MARK THEM WITH A PENCIL, PLACE MARK THEM WITH A PENCIL, PLACE THEM ON UNDER THE SETTING HEN THEM ON UNDER THE SETTING HEN AND WAIT FOR THREE LONG WEEK FOR AND WAIT FOR THREE LONG WEEK FOR THE LITTLE CHICKS TO HATCH.

THE LITTLE CHICKS TO HATCH.

AND AFTER THE LITTLE CHICKS WERE AND AFTER THE LITTLE CHICKS WERE HATCHED I WOULD TAKE THE LITTLE HATCHED I WOULD TAKE THE LITTLE CHICKS PUT THEM IN A BOX WITH A CHICKS PUT THEM IN A BOX WITH A LANTERN AND RAISE THEM ON THEIR LANTERN AND RAISE THEM ON THEIR END OF GET MORE FRESH EGGS AND END OF GET MORE FRESH EGGS AND MARK THEM WITH PENCIL AND PLACE MARK THEM WITH PENCIL AND PLACE THEM UNDER THE SETTING AGAIN AND THEM UNDER THE SETTING AGAIN AND LET THEM STAY FOR ANOTHER THREE LET THEM STAY FOR ANOTHER THREE WEEKS.

WEEKS.

GET THE CHICKS TO ANOTHER HEN.

GET THE CHICKS TO ANOTHER HEN.

I KEPT ON FOOLING THE SETTING I KEPT ON FOOLING THE SETTING HENS BECAUSE I NEVER COULD SAVE HENS BECAUSE I NEVER COULD SAVE $18.98 TO ORDER THE MOST $18.98 TO ORDER THE MOST INEXPENSIVE INCUBATOR HATCHER INEXPENSIVE INCUBATOR HATCHER FOR FROM THE SEARS AND ROEBUCKS FOR FROM THE SEARS AND ROEBUCKS STORE.

STORE.

YOU'RE PROBABLY TOO YOUNG TO YOU'RE PROBABLY TOO YOUNG TO KNOW ABOUT THE SEARS AND ROEBUCK KNOW ABOUT THE SEARS AND ROEBUCK CATALOG.

CATALOG.

THICK BOOK, HEAVY BOOK.

THICK BOOK, HEAVY BOOK.

SOME PEOPLE CALL IT A WISH BOOK.

SOME PEOPLE CALL IT A WISH BOOK.

WISH I HAD THIS, WISH I HAD WISH I HAD THIS, WISH I HAD THAT.

THAT.

AND SO, IT WAS MY LIFE.

AND SO, IT WAS MY LIFE.

I WOULD TALK TO THESE CHICKENS I WOULD TALK TO THESE CHICKENS AT NIGHT AND SAY YOU BE QUIET.

AT NIGHT AND SAY YOU BE QUIET.

YOU LISTEN, AND DON'T YOU FIGHT.

YOU LISTEN, AND DON'T YOU FIGHT.

SO THOSE CHICKENS TAUGHT ME SO THOSE CHICKENS TAUGHT ME SOMETHING ABOUT NON-VIOLENCE SOMETHING ABOUT NON-VIOLENCE BEFORE I MET -- BEFORE I MET -- [ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] AND THEY ALSO TAUGHT ME AND THEY ALSO TAUGHT ME PATIENCE.

PATIENCE.

BE PATIENT.

BE PATIENT.

TO TAKE THE LOOK HARD WAIT.

TO TAKE THE LOOK HARD WAIT.

WAIT THREE WEEKS.

WAIT THREE WEEKS.

>> DID YOU EVER GO THROUGH A >> DID YOU EVER GO THROUGH A PHASE AS A CHILD OR A YOUNG MAN PHASE AS A CHILD OR A YOUNG MAN IN WHICH YOU WERE VIOLENT?

IN WHICH YOU WERE VIOLENT?

IN WHICH YOU WERE, YOU KNOW, IN WHICH YOU WERE, YOU KNOW, BREAK THINGS FOR BREAKING THINGS BREAK THINGS FOR BREAKING THINGS SAKE?

SAKE?

A LOT OF KIDS GO THROUGH THAT.

A LOT OF KIDS GO THROUGH THAT.

I WENT THROUGH THAT PHASE.

I WENT THROUGH THAT PHASE.

DESTRUCT KIND OF PHASE.

DESTRUCT KIND OF PHASE.

>> I NEVER WENT THROUGH THAT >> I NEVER WENT THROUGH THAT PHASE.

PHASE.

I WAS JUST A KID, TRYING TO DO I WAS JUST A KID, TRYING TO DO MY BEST, AND WE HAVE VERY FEW MY BEST, AND WE HAVE VERY FEW BOOKS AT HOME.

BOOKS AT HOME.

VERY FEW BOOKS.

VERY FEW BOOKS.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A SUBSCRIPTION TO WE DIDN'T HAVE A SUBSCRIPTION TO THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER BUT MY THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER BUT MY GRANDFATHER HAD ONE.

GRANDFATHER HAD ONE.

AND WHEN HE WOULD FINISH READING AND WHEN HE WOULD FINISH READING THE NEWSPAPER, I STAYED WITH TO THE NEWSPAPER, I STAYED WITH TO GET HIS NEWSPAPER AND READ THAT GET HIS NEWSPAPER AND READ THAT PAPER.

PAPER.

WE LISTENED TO AN OLD RADIO TO WE LISTENED TO AN OLD RADIO TO GET THE NEWS.

GET THE NEWS.

>> YOU TOOK A TRIP NORTH AS A >> YOU TOOK A TRIP NORTH AS A VERY YOUNG MAN WITH AN UNCLE TO VERY YOUNG MAN WITH AN UNCLE TO BUFFALO, NEW YORK BUFFALO, NEW YORK AND SAW PEOPLE LIVING IN AN AND SAW PEOPLE LIVING IN AN UNSEGREGATED WAY.

UNSEGREGATED WAY.

HOW DID THAT AFFECT YOU?

HOW DID THAT AFFECT YOU?

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER?

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER?

>> I REMEMBER THAT TRIP SO WELL.

>> I REMEMBER THAT TRIP SO WELL.

I WAS 11 YEARS OLD IN 1951.

I WAS 11 YEARS OLD IN 1951.

LEAVING RURAL ALABAMA IN A CAR, LEAVING RURAL ALABAMA IN A CAR, BUT TWO OR THREE NIGHTS BEFORE, BUT TWO OR THREE NIGHTS BEFORE, MY MOTHER AND HER SISTER, MY MY MOTHER AND HER SISTER, MY AUNT, STAYED UP BAKING PIES AND AUNT, STAYED UP BAKING PIES AND CAKES AND FRIED CHICKEN AND CAKES AND FRIED CHICKEN AND WRAPPING IT IN PAPER, PUTTING WRAPPING IT IN PAPER, PUTTING FOOD IN A BROWN PAPER BAG, AND A FOOD IN A BROWN PAPER BAG, AND A SHOE BOX SO WE WOULD HAVE SHOE BOX SO WE WOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT AS WE PASSED SOMETHING TO EAT AS WE PASSED THROUGH ALABAMA, TENNESSEE, THROUGH ALABAMA, TENNESSEE, THROUGH KENTUCKY, ON OUR WAY TO THROUGH KENTUCKY, ON OUR WAY TO HIGHWAY AND ON TO BUFFALO, HIGHWAY AND ON TO BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

NEW YORK.

ARRIVING IN BUFFALO, MY ARRIVING IN BUFFALO, MY RELATIVES LIVED RIGHT NEXT DOOR RELATIVES LIVED RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO A WHITE FAMILY.

TO A WHITE FAMILY.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I SAW BLACK PEOPLE AND WHITE PEOPLE BLACK PEOPLE AND WHITE PEOPLE SITTING DOWN TOGETHER AND EATING SITTING DOWN TOGETHER AND EATING TOGETHER, ON THE SAME FLOOR OF TOGETHER, ON THE SAME FLOOR OF THE THEATRE.

THE THEATRE.

GROWING UP IN RURAL ALABAMA 60 GROWING UP IN RURAL ALABAMA 60 MILES FROM MONTGOMERY, BLACK MILES FROM MONTGOMERY, BLACK PEOPLE AND WHITE PEOPLE COULDN'T PEOPLE AND WHITE PEOPLE COULDN'T BE SEATED TOGETHER IN A THEATRE.

BE SEATED TOGETHER IN A THEATRE.

COULDN'T RIDE TOGETHER IN A COULDN'T RIDE TOGETHER IN A TAXICAB.

TAXICAB.

AND TO SEE THAT.

AND TO SEE THAT.

I RODE ON THE ELEVATOR FOR THE I RODE ON THE ELEVATOR FOR THE FIRST TIME, ESCALATOR FOR THE FIRST TIME, ESCALATOR FOR THE FIRST TIME.

FIRST TIME.

IT CHANGED MY LIFE.

IT CHANGED MY LIFE.

I REMEMBER GOING BACK TO TROY, I REMEMBER GOING BACK TO TROY, WITH SOME OF MY COUSINS AND WITH SOME OF MY COUSINS AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND THIS IS BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND THIS IS NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY CORRECT BUT NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY CORRECT BUT WE TRIED TO DO, WE TRIED TO SAW WE TRIED TO DO, WE TRIED TO SAW DOWN A LARGE PINE TREE THAT WE DOWN A LARGE PINE TREE THAT WE WERE GOING TO MAKE A BUS, AND WERE GOING TO MAKE A BUS, AND THE WHEELS OUT OF THE SIDE, AND THE WHEELS OUT OF THE SIDE, AND WE WERE GOING TO ROLL OUT OF WE WERE GOING TO ROLL OUT OF ALABAMA.

ALABAMA.

[ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] >> PINEWOOD DERBY.

>> PINEWOOD DERBY.

>> YES.

>> YES.

[ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] >> YOU BROUGHT HOUSE MAJORITY >> YOU BROUGHT HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER ERIC CANTOR TO THE EDMUND LEADER ERIC CANTOR TO THE EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE TO COMMEMORATE THE PETTUS BRIDGE TO COMMEMORATE THE SELMA MONTGOMERY MARK AND THE SELMA MONTGOMERY MARK AND THE ATTACK ON THE MARCHERS, AND, ATTACK ON THE MARCHERS, AND, INDEED, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT INDEED, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT THAT WAS EARNED BY YOUR BLOOD THAT WAS EARNED BY YOUR BLOOD AND BY THE BLOOD OF OTHERS ON AND BY THE BLOOD OF OTHERS ON THAT BRIDGE.

THAT BRIDGE.

I DON'T MEAN THIS IN A CYNICAL I DON'T MEAN THIS IN A CYNICAL WAY, BUT CONGRESSMAN CANTOR GOT WAY, BUT CONGRESSMAN CANTOR GOT A LOT OF GREAT PRESS FROM DOING A LOT OF GREAT PRESS FROM DOING THAT WITH YOU.

THAT WITH YOU.

AS MAJORITY LEADER THOUGH BACK AS MAJORITY LEADER THOUGH BACK IN WASHINGTON, HE HAS NOT HELPED IN WASHINGTON, HE HAS NOT HELPED BRING THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT BRING THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT BACK.

BACK.

THROUGH LEGISLATION AFTER THE THROUGH LEGISLATION AFTER THE SUPREME COURT GUTTED IT THIS SUPREME COURT GUTTED IT THIS SUMMER.

SUMMER.

IS IT AN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD OF IS IT AN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD OF BEING JOHN LEWIS THAT PEOPLE TRY BEING JOHN LEWIS THAT PEOPLE TRY TO BE SEEN WITH YOU, TO TO BE SEEN WITH YOU, TO ASSOCIATE WITH YOU, TO CAST A ASSOCIATE WITH YOU, TO CAST A LITTLE UNDESERVED GLORY OF THE LITTLE UNDESERVED GLORY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND YOUR CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS ON THEMSELVES?

ACHIEVEMENTS ON THEMSELVES?

>> WELL, ON THE ONE HAND, I >> WELL, ON THE ONE HAND, I WOULD SAY, MAYBE IT IS A WOULD SAY, MAYBE IT IS A BLESSING, AND ON THE OTHER HAND BLESSING, AND ON THE OTHER HAND IT MAY BE A CURSE.

IT MAY BE A CURSE.

THE MAJORITY LEADER SAID TO ME A THE MAJORITY LEADER SAID TO ME A FEW DAYS AGO, WE NEED TO SIT FEW DAYS AGO, WE NEED TO SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT THE VOTING DOWN AND TALK ABOUT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

RIGHTS ACT.

SO JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, I'M NOT SO JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, I'M NOT GIVING UP ON HIM.

GIVING UP ON HIM.

BUT, I TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED BUT, I TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED SOME TIME, PEOPLE WALK UP TO ME, SOME TIME, PEOPLE WALK UP TO ME, AND THEY ARE WHITE, LATINO, AND THEY ARE WHITE, LATINO, ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE AMERICAN, ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE AMERICAN, MEN, WOMEN, THEY START CRYING.

MEN, WOMEN, THEY START CRYING.

I SAY PLEASE DON'T CRY.

I SAY PLEASE DON'T CRY.

PEOPLE SAY I'M GOING TO PASS PEOPLE SAY I'M GOING TO PASS OUT.

OUT.

I SAID, PLEASE I'M NOT A DOCTOR.

I SAID, PLEASE I'M NOT A DOCTOR.

PLEASE DON'T.

PLEASE DON'T.

[ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] BUT, I HAVE HAD PEOPLE SAY TO ME BUT, I HAVE HAD PEOPLE SAY TO ME CAN I TOUCH YOU TO SEE IF YOU'RE CAN I TOUCH YOU TO SEE IF YOU'RE HERE, I SAID VERY MUCH SO, VERY HERE, I SAID VERY MUCH SO, VERY MUCH SO.

MUCH SO.

>> HOW DO YOU HANDLE THAT?

>> HOW DO YOU HANDLE THAT?

>> I JUST SAY THANK YOU.

>> I JUST SAY THANK YOU.

>> BUT DOES IT -- DO YOU FEEL >> BUT DOES IT -- DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO INSULATE LIKE YOU NEED TO INSULATE YOURSELF FROM THAT KIND OF HERO YOURSELF FROM THAT KIND OF HERO WORSHIP BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE YOU WORSHIP BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE YOU NOT RECOGNIZE YOURSELF?

NOT RECOGNIZE YOURSELF?

>> SOME TIME I HAVE A FEELING >> SOME TIME I HAVE A FEELING MAYBE I SHOULD JUST GO IN AND MAYBE I SHOULD JUST GO IN AND JUST DISAPPEAR FOR A FEW DAYS OR JUST DISAPPEAR FOR A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS, SOME TIME WHEN I GO TO WEEKS, SOME TIME WHEN I GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, TO SHOP, WITH THE GROCERY STORE, TO SHOP, WITH MY SON, HE WILL SAY DADDY PUT ON MY SON, HE WILL SAY DADDY PUT ON A HAT.

A HAT.

I'M NOT GOING WITH YOU.

I'M NOT GOING WITH YOU.

I'LL PUT ON A CAP AND PEOPLE I'LL PUT ON A CAP AND PEOPLE STILL RECOGNIZE ME.

STILL RECOGNIZE ME.

HE SAID, I'M NOT GOING GO WITH HE SAID, I'M NOT GOING GO WITH YOU.

YOU.

TAKES YOU TOO LONG.

TAKES YOU TOO LONG.

YOU HAVE THE TO HUG EVERYBODY, YOU HAVE THE TO HUG EVERYBODY, YOU HAVE TO KISS EVERYBODY.

YOU HAVE TO KISS EVERYBODY.

I SAID, IT IS PART OF MY JOB, I SAID, IT IS PART OF MY JOB, PART OF MY RESPONSIBILITY.

PART OF MY RESPONSIBILITY.

>> DO YOU WANT TO BORROW MY >> DO YOU WANT TO BORROW MY GLASSES NEXT TIME YOU GO?

GLASSES NEXT TIME YOU GO?

[ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] IT IS REPORTED, AND I CANNOT IT IS REPORTED, AND I CANNOT CONFIRM THIS BUT YOU CAN IT IS CONFIRM THIS BUT YOU CAN IT IS REPORTED THE ORIGINAL TEXT OF REPORTED THE ORIGINAL TEXT OF YOUR SPEECH THAT YOU WROTE FOR YOUR SPEECH THAT YOU WROTE FOR THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE 1963 THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE 1963 MARCH ON WASHINGTON INCLUDE MARCH ON WASHINGTON INCLUDE THESE LINES: THESE LINES: "WE WILL MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH "WE WILL MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH THE WAY SHERMAN DID.

THE WAY SHERMAN DID.

WE SHALL PURSUE OUR OWN SCORCHED WE SHALL PURSUE OUR OWN SCORCHED EARTH POLICY.

EARTH POLICY.

WE SHALL FRAGMENT THE SOUTH INTO WE SHALL FRAGMENT THE SOUTH INTO A THOUSAND PIECES AND PUT THEM A THOUSAND PIECES AND PUT THEM TOGETHER AGAIN IN THE IMAGE OF TOGETHER AGAIN IN THE IMAGE OF DEMOCRACY."

DEMOCRACY."

IT IS REPORTED THAT THOSE WERE IT IS REPORTED THAT THOSE WERE AMONG THE WORDS THAT YOU WROTE AMONG THE WORDS THAT YOU WROTE FOR THAT SPEECH THAT WERE FOR THAT SPEECH THAT WERE EVENTUALLY STRUCK FROM THE EVENTUALLY STRUCK FROM THE SPEECH BEFORE YOU DELIVERED IT SPEECH BEFORE YOU DELIVERED IT BECAUSE OF INTREATIES FROM YOUR BECAUSE OF INTREATIES FROM YOUR OWN SIDE.

OWN SIDE.

PEOPLE WHO YOU TRUSTED COMING TO PEOPLE WHO YOU TRUSTED COMING TO YOU AND SAYING YOU CAN'T BE THAT YOU AND SAYING YOU CAN'T BE THAT MILITANT IN THIS SETTING.

MILITANT IN THIS SETTING.

IS THAT TRUE?

IS THAT TRUE?

HOW DID THAT WORK?

HOW DID THAT WORK?

>> I GOT THE IMAGE OF BEING >> I GOT THE IMAGE OF BEING MILITANT, OF BEING RADICAL, AND MILITANT, OF BEING RADICAL, AND I DIDN'T SEE MYSELF AS BEING I DIDN'T SEE MYSELF AS BEING MILITANT.

MILITANT.

A RADICAL.

A RADICAL.

I THINK THE PLAY ON WORDS.

I THINK THE PLAY ON WORDS.

I SAID EARLIER IN THE SPEECH, I SAID EARLIER IN THE SPEECH, NEAR THE END I SAID YOU TELL US NEAR THE END I SAID YOU TELL US TO WAIT.

TO WAIT.

YOU TELL US TO BE PATIENT.

YOU TELL US TO BE PATIENT.

WE DON'T WANT OUR FREEDOM, WE DON'T WANT OUR FREEDOM, WE DON'T WANT OUR FREEDOM, WE WE DON'T WANT OUR FREEDOM, WE WANT IT NOW.

WANT IT NOW.

I TALKED ABOUT BROTHERHOOD, I TALKED ABOUT BROTHERHOOD, SHOULD INCLUDE SISTERHOOD.

SHOULD INCLUDE SISTERHOOD.

BUT THE LINE NEAR THE END, IT BUT THE LINE NEAR THE END, IT SAYS IF WE DID NOT SEE SAYS IF WE DID NOT SEE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS HERE TODAY MEANINGFUL PROGRESS HERE TODAY THE DAY WILL COME, WE'LL GO MORE THE DAY WILL COME, WE'LL GO MORE TO THE SOUTH THE WAY SHERMAN DID TO THE SOUTH THE WAY SHERMAN DID NON-VIOLENTLY.

NON-VIOLENTLY.

AND THERE WERE PEOPLE INCLUDED AND THERE WERE PEOPLE INCLUDED THE ARCHBISHOP OF THE DIOCESE THE ARCHBISHOP OF THE DIOCESE SAID HE WOULD NOT GIVE THE SAID HE WOULD NOT GIVE THE INVOCATION WITH THAT LINE IN THE INVOCATION WITH THAT LINE IN THE SPEECH.

SPEECH.

AND SOME OTHERS HAD A FEW WORDS.

AND SOME OTHERS HAD A FEW WORDS.

SO RANDOLPH, THE DEAN OF BLACK SO RANDOLPH, THE DEAN OF BLACK LEADERSHIP, AND MARTIN LUTHER LEADERSHIP, AND MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., MY HERO, MY KING JR., MY HERO, MY INSPIRATION CAME TO ME AND SAID, INSPIRATION CAME TO ME AND SAID, JOHN, COULD YOU CHANGE THAT?

JOHN, COULD YOU CHANGE THAT?

WE HAVE COME THIS FAR TOGETHER WE HAVE COME THIS FAR TOGETHER AND DR.

KING SAID JOHN, THAT AND DR.

KING SAID JOHN, THAT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE YOU.

DIDN'T SOUND LIKE YOU.

SO I COULDN'T ANO TO HIM, A MAN SO I COULDN'T ANO TO HIM, A MAN THAT I LOVED AND ADMIRED.

THAT I LOVED AND ADMIRED.

HE WAS SUCH A RESPECTED LEADER HE WAS SUCH A RESPECTED LEADER OF THE MOVEMENT, AND I COULDN'T OF THE MOVEMENT, AND I COULDN'T HAVE SAID NO TO DR.

KING.

HAVE SAID NO TO DR.

KING.

AND I AGREED TO REMOVE IT.

AND I AGREED TO REMOVE IT.

>> DO YOU AGREE NOW THAT THEY >> DO YOU AGREE NOW THAT THEY GAVE YOU GOOD AND SOUND ADVICE?

GAVE YOU GOOD AND SOUND ADVICE?

>> IT WAS GOOD AND SOUND ADVICE.

>> IT WAS GOOD AND SOUND ADVICE.

IT ALL WORKED OUT.

IT ALL WORKED OUT.

IT ALL WORKED OUT.

IT ALL WORKED OUT.

>> DO YOU IDENTIFY WITH THAT >> DO YOU IDENTIFY WITH THAT SAME ANALYSIS THAT WAS IN THE SAME ANALYSIS THAT WAS IN THE ORIGINAL SPEECH BEFORE YOU TOOK ORIGINAL SPEECH BEFORE YOU TOOK IT OUT?

IT OUT?

DO YOU STILL AGREE WITH THAT DO YOU STILL AGREE WITH THAT SENTIMENT NOW THAT PATIENCE IS SENTIMENT NOW THAT PATIENCE IS OVERRATED?

OVERRATED?

THAT IF WE CANNOT GET WHAT WE THAT IF WE CANNOT GET WHAT WE ARE DUE NOW, THAT WE WILL TAKE ARE DUE NOW, THAT WE WILL TAKE IT NOW?

IT NOW?

>> I THINK, I CAN'T SAY TO THIS >> I THINK, I CAN'T SAY TO THIS AUDIENCE AND I COULDN'T SAY, BUT AUDIENCE AND I COULDN'T SAY, BUT I REMEMBER SOMEONE SAYING, JOHN, I REMEMBER SOMEONE SAYING, JOHN, YOU CAN'T SAY PATIENCE IS A YOU CAN'T SAY PATIENCE IS A DIRTY NASTY WORD.

DIRTY NASTY WORD.

SAID, YOU KNOW, A SEGMENT OF THE SAID, YOU KNOW, A SEGMENT OF THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY BELIEVES IN RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY BELIEVES IN BEING PATIENT.

BEING PATIENT.

AND I SAID, WELL, WE CANNOT BE AND I SAID, WELL, WE CANNOT BE PATIENT.

PATIENT.

WE CANNOT WAIT.

WE CANNOT WAIT.

BUT YOU HAVE TO BE INVOLVED.

BUT YOU HAVE TO BE INVOLVED.

YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE MIDST TO YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE MIDST TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE.

BRING ABOUT CHANGE.

YOU HAVE TO PUSH AND YOU HAVE TO YOU HAVE TO PUSH AND YOU HAVE TO PULL, THAT PEOPLE ARE HURTING PULL, THAT PEOPLE ARE HURTING AND SUFFERING.

AND SUFFERING.

I LIKE, I LIKE THE NEW POPE.

I LIKE, I LIKE THE NEW POPE.

I LOVE THE NEW POPE.

I LOVE THE NEW POPE.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] >> WHEN THE EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE >> WHEN THE EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE INCIDENT HAPPENED, IN THAT MARCH INCIDENT HAPPENED, IN THAT MARCH FROM SELMA TO MONTGOMERY, YOU FROM SELMA TO MONTGOMERY, YOU HAD BEEN THE HEAD OF THE STUDENT HAD BEEN THE HEAD OF THE STUDENT NON-VIOLENT COORDINATING NON-VIOLENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE AND THEY HAD BEEN COMMITTEE AND THEY HAD BEEN OPERATING IN SELMA ALREADY FOR OPERATING IN SELMA ALREADY FOR YEARS BY THE TIME OF THAT MARCH.

YEARS BY THE TIME OF THAT MARCH.

TRYING TO REGISTER VOTERS FOR TRYING TO REGISTER VOTERS FOR TWO YEARS.

TWO YEARS.

AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AT THE AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AT THE TIME OF THE MARCH, 15,000 BLACK TIME OF THE MARCH, 15,000 BLACK RESIDENTS IN SELMA AT THAT TIME, RESIDENTS IN SELMA AT THAT TIME, THE NUMBER REGISTERED TO VOTE THE NUMBER REGISTERED TO VOTE WAS 383.

WAS 383.

THIS YEAR WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE THIS YEAR WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT GETTING GUTTED VOTING RIGHTS ACT GETTING GUTTED BY THE SUPREME COURT, THE STATE BY THE SUPREME COURT, THE STATE GOVERNMENT OF ALABAMA, THE GOVERNMENT OF ALABAMA, THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR AND REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR AND REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL AND REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SECRETARY OF STATE ANNOUNCED SECRETARY OF STATE ANNOUNCED THAT, NOW THAT THE VOTING RIGHTS THAT, NOW THAT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT HAD BEEN STRUCK DOWN, ACT HAD BEEN STRUCK DOWN, SECTION 5, THEY WOULD MOVE SECTION 5, THEY WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH STRICT VOTER ID IN FORWARD WITH STRICT VOTER ID IN ALABAMA.

ALABAMA.

IS IT THE SAME FIGHT?

IS IT THE SAME FIGHT?

>> IT IS THE SAME FIGHT.

>> IT IS THE SAME FIGHT.

AND IT IS NOT JUST THE STATE OF AND IT IS NOT JUST THE STATE OF ALABAMA, IT IS NOT JUST AMERICAN ALABAMA, IT IS NOT JUST AMERICAN SOUTH.

SOUTH.

BUT IT IS SO MANY OTHER PLACES.

BUT IT IS SO MANY OTHER PLACES.

WHETHER IT IS ARIZONA, WHETHER WHETHER IT IS ARIZONA, WHETHER IT IS PENNSYLVANIA.

IT IS PENNSYLVANIA.

I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THAT WE MUST I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THAT WE MUST CONTINUE TO OPEN UP THE CONTINUE TO OPEN UP THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND LET POLITICAL PROCESS AND LET EVERYBODY COME IN.

EVERYBODY COME IN.

THE VOTE IS PRECIOUS, ALMOST THE VOTE IS PRECIOUS, ALMOST SACRED, AND TO BE ABLE TO SACRED, AND TO BE ABLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE OR TO CAST REGISTER TO VOTE OR TO CAST THEIR VOTE, SHOULD BE EASY AS A THEIR VOTE, SHOULD BE EASY AS A GETTING A GLASS OF WATER.

GETTING A GLASS OF WATER.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] >> WHY HAVE WE EXPERIENCE ED SO >> WHY HAVE WE EXPERIENCE ED SO MUCH BACKSLIDING ON THE ACCESS MUCH BACKSLIDING ON THE ACCESS TO THE RIGHT TO VOTE?

TO THE RIGHT TO VOTE?

>> I THINK THAT, I THINK AS A >> I THINK THAT, I THINK AS A DELIBERATE SYSTEMATIC EFFORT, ON DELIBERATE SYSTEMATIC EFFORT, ON THE PART OF A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF THE PART OF A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND PEOPLE ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE US BACK TO ANOTHER WANT TO TAKE US BACK TO ANOTHER PERIOD.

PERIOD.

THEY FEEL THE FUTURE, THAT'S THEY FEEL THE FUTURE, THAT'S WHAT THE WHOLE IMMIGRATION FIGHT WHAT THE WHOLE IMMIGRATION FIGHT IS ALL ABOUT.

IS ALL ABOUT.

AND WE CANNOT GO BACK.

AND WE CANNOT GO BACK.

WE HAVE TO GO FORWARD.

WE HAVE TO GO FORWARD.

AND OPEN UP THE PROCESS AND LET AND OPEN UP THE PROCESS AND LET PEOPLE COME IN, LET EVERYBODY PEOPLE COME IN, LET EVERYBODY PARTICIPATE.

PARTICIPATE.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO A I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO A PERIOD WHERE PEOPLE STOOD IN THE PERIOD WHERE PEOPLE STOOD IN THE IMMOVABLE LINES IN SELMA.

IMMOVABLE LINES IN SELMA.

I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THE I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THE LITERACY TEST.

LITERACY TEST.

WE HAVE A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, WE HAVE A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, FROM A CERTAIN STATE IN THE WEST FROM A CERTAIN STATE IN THE WEST SAYING THAT WE SHOULD BRING BACK SAYING THAT WE SHOULD BRING BACK THE LITERACY TEST.

THE LITERACY TEST.

I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO A I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO A PERIOD AND MAYBE WON'T GO THAT PERIOD AND MAYBE WON'T GO THAT FAR, IN THIS AGE OF THE NEW FAR, IN THIS AGE OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGY.

TECHNOLOGY.

WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO COUNT THE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO COUNT THE NUMBER OF BUBBLES OR THE NUMBER NUMBER OF BUBBLES OR THE NUMBER OF JELLY BEANS IN A JAR.

OF JELLY BEANS IN A JAR.

THERE WAS ONE COUNTY BACK IN THERE WAS ONE COUNTY BACK IN 1965 AND 1966, BETWEEN SELMA AND 1965 AND 1966, BETWEEN SELMA AND MONTGOMERY, THAT KIND OF WAS MONTGOMERY, THAT KIND OF WAS MORE THAN 80% AFRICAN-AMERICAN MORE THAN 80% AFRICAN-AMERICAN THAT WAS NOT A SINGLE REGISTERED THAT WAS NOT A SINGLE REGISTERED AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTER IN THAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTER IN THAT COUNTY.

COUNTY.

A STATE LIKE THE STATE OF A STATE LIKE THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, BACK IN '63, '64, MISSISSIPPI, BACK IN '63, '64, AND '65 HAD A BLACK VOTING AGE AND '65 HAD A BLACK VOTING AGE POPULATION OF MORE THAN 450,000 POPULATION OF MORE THAN 450,000 AND ONLY ABOUT 16,000 WERE AND ONLY ABOUT 16,000 WERE REGISTERED TO VOTE.

REGISTERED TO VOTE.

PEOPLE LIVE IN FEAR.

PEOPLE LIVE IN FEAR.

PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO BE AFRAID.

PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO BE AFRAID.

>> AND NONE OF THE -- NOT TO >> AND NONE OF THE -- NOT TO JUMP ON WITH YOU HERE BUT NONE JUMP ON WITH YOU HERE BUT NONE OF THE SPECIFIC POLICY MEANS BY OF THE SPECIFIC POLICY MEANS BY WHICH AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE WHICH AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE EXCLUDED FROM REGISTERING TO EXCLUDED FROM REGISTERING TO VOTE WERE RACIALLY SPECIFIC.

VOTE WERE RACIALLY SPECIFIC.

THEY WERE ALL THINGS LIKE, OH, THEY WERE ALL THINGS LIKE, OH, LITERACY TEST, THAT'S NOT ABOUT LITERACY TEST, THAT'S NOT ABOUT RACE, COUNTING BUBBLES IN A BAR RACE, COUNTING BUBBLES IN A BAR OF SOAP, THAT'S NOT ABOUT RACE.

OF SOAP, THAT'S NOT ABOUT RACE.

>> TEN PERCENT SECTION OF THE >> TEN PERCENT SECTION OF THE CONSTITUTION, ALABAMA, CONSTITUTION, ALABAMA, GEORGIA, MISSISSIPPI.

GEORGIA, MISSISSIPPI.

>> OR A PULL TAX.

>> OR A PULL TAX.

>> VOTER REGISTRATION, THAT'S >> VOTER REGISTRATION, THAT'S NOT ABOUT RACE.

NOT ABOUT RACE.

>> BUT MAKE IT HARD FOR PEOPLE >> BUT MAKE IT HARD FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR.

OF COLOR.

FOR STUDENTS, FOR OUR SENIORS TO FOR STUDENTS, FOR OUR SENIORS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.

PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.

AND IT IS NOT RIGHT.

AND IT IS NOT RIGHT.

>> WHEN THE SUPREME COURT DID >> WHEN THE SUPREME COURT DID STRIKE DOWN SECTION 5, SENATOR STRIKE DOWN SECTION 5, SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL OF KENTUCKY MITCH MCCONNELL OF KENTUCKY WAS -- WAS -- (CROWD INTERJECTION) (CROWD INTERJECTION) LIKE I SAID, HAVE YOU EVER LIKE I SAID, HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT RUNNING IN THOUGHT ABOUT RUNNING IN KENTUCKY?

KENTUCKY?

[ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL OF SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL OF KENTUCKY WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, KENTUCKY WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, WAS ASKED FOR HIS REACTION THAT WAS ASKED FOR HIS REACTION THAT DAY, AND HE SAID "OBVIOUSLY, IT DAY, AND HE SAID "OBVIOUSLY, IT IS AN IMPORTANT -- TALKING ABOUT IS AN IMPORTANT -- TALKING ABOUT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, "OBVIOUSLY IT IS AN IMPORTANT "OBVIOUSLY IT IS AN IMPORTANT BILL THAT PASSED BACK IN THE BILL THAT PASSED BACK IN THE '60S, AT A TIME WHEN WE HAD A '60S, AT A TIME WHEN WE HAD A VERY DIFFERENT AMERICA.

VERY DIFFERENT AMERICA.

AMERICA IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN AMERICA IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IT WAS IN THE 1960S."

WHAT IT WAS IN THE 1960S."

THAT ESSENTIALLY WAS -- THOSE THAT ESSENTIALLY WAS -- THOSE ARE THE BRIEF REMARKS OF SENATOR ARE THE BRIEF REMARKS OF SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL IN RESPONSE MITCH MCCONNELL IN RESPONSE AND THAT WAS THE ARGUMENT OF AND THAT WAS THE ARGUMENT OF CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS WITH MORE CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS WITH MORE STATISTICS ATTACHED.

STATISTICS ATTACHED.

AND I WONDER JUST HOW -- I AND I WONDER JUST HOW -- I WONDER IF THAT ACTUALLY IS A NEW WONDER IF THAT ACTUALLY IS A NEW ARGUMENT.

ARGUMENT.

IF WHEN YOU WERE FIRST ARGUING IF WHEN YOU WERE FIRST ARGUING FOR WHAT BECAME THE VOTING FOR WHAT BECAME THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT IN 1965, PEOPLE WERE RIGHTS ACT IN 1965, PEOPLE WERE SAYING THIS IS AN OLD PROBLEM OR SAYING THIS IS AN OLD PROBLEM OR IF NOW THIS IS A NEW ARGUMENT IF NOW THIS IS A NEW ARGUMENT AND PART OF THE FIGHT THAT AND PART OF THE FIGHT THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING THIS IS ONE, PEOPLE ARE SAYING THIS IS ONE, IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE PROTECTED.

IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE PROTECTED.

>> WELL, I WISH THE SENATOR AND >> WELL, I WISH THE SENATOR AND CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT WOULD UNDERSTAND, WITHOUT COURT WOULD UNDERSTAND, WITHOUT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965, AND BEING RENEWED DURING THE AND BEING RENEWED DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE WOULDN'T BE PAST FEW YEARS, WE WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE A PROGRESS WE WOULDN'T HAVE A PROGRESS TODAY.

TODAY.

BEFORE THE INK WAS DRY ON THE BEFORE THE INK WAS DRY ON THE DECISION, YOU HAD STATES AND YOU DECISION, YOU HAD STATES AND YOU SAID IT SO CORRECTLY, LIKE, SAID IT SO CORRECTLY, LIKE, ALABAMA, NORTH CAROLINA.

ALABAMA, NORTH CAROLINA.

>> MISSISSIPPI.

>> MISSISSIPPI.

>> MISSISSIPPI.

>> MISSISSIPPI.

THEY WANT TO TAKE US BACK TO THEY WANT TO TAKE US BACK TO ANOTHER PERIOD.

ANOTHER PERIOD.

AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SAYING AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING BACK, WE'RE WE'RE NOT GOING BACK, WE'RE GOING FORWARD.

GOING FORWARD.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] >> PEOPLE CALL YOU THE >> PEOPLE CALL YOU THE CONSCIENCE OF THE CONGRESS WHICH CONSCIENCE OF THE CONGRESS WHICH I AM GUESSING PROBABLY I AM GUESSING PROBABLY EMBARRASSS YOU.

EMBARRASSS YOU.

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> BUT PEOPLE CALL YOU THAT ON >> BUT PEOPLE CALL YOU THAT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND HAVE BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND HAVE FOR A LONG TIME.

FOR A LONG TIME.

IF YOU COULD WAVE A MAGIC WANT IF YOU COULD WAVE A MAGIC WANT AND HAVE CONGRESS PASS SOMETHING AND HAVE CONGRESS PASS SOMETHING SOLELY AT YOUR REQUEST, WHAT SOLELY AT YOUR REQUEST, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

WOULD IT BE?

>> FIRST OF ALL IF I HAD THE >> FIRST OF ALL IF I HAD THE POWER TO DO IT, I WOULD BRING POWER TO DO IT, I WOULD BRING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TOGETHER AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TOGETHER AND HAVE SOMEONE LIKE JIM LAWSON, HAVE SOMEONE LIKE JIM LAWSON, THIS UNBELIEVABLE TEACHER TO THIS UNBELIEVABLE TEACHER TO CONDUCT THE NON-VIOLENT CONDUCT THE NON-VIOLENT WORKSHOP.

WORKSHOP.

AND MAYBE TEACH THEM THE WAY OF AND MAYBE TEACH THEM THE WAY OF PEACE, THE WAY OF LOVE, TO GET PEACE, THE WAY OF LOVE, TO GET THEM TO RESPECT, DIGNITY OF ALL THEM TO RESPECT, DIGNITY OF ALL OF THE CITIZENS, ALL OF THE OF THE CITIZENS, ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.

PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.

IF WE COULD GET JUST GET MEMBERS IF WE COULD GET JUST GET MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO COME TO THAT OF CONGRESS TO COME TO THAT POINT, SO WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE POINT, SO WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, JOBS, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, JOBS, WE'RE GOING SAVE THIS LITTLE WE'RE GOING SAVE THIS LITTLE PLANET AND SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT, PLANET AND SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT, THE GENERATION YET UNBORN.

THE GENERATION YET UNBORN.

AND NOT TO BE SO -- SOMETIMES I AND NOT TO BE SO -- SOMETIMES I THINK PEOPLE ARE JUST MEAN.

THINK PEOPLE ARE JUST MEAN.

REALLY.

REALLY.

MAYBE I DON'T WANT TO SAY MAYBE I DON'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT MY COLLEAGUE, ANYTHING BAD ABOUT MY COLLEAGUE, BUT, YOU KNOW, FOR SOMEONE TO BUT, YOU KNOW, FOR SOMEONE TO STAND UP AND SAY TO THE STAND UP AND SAY TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, YOU LIE.

YOU LIE.

I NEVER -- A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, I NEVER -- A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, FOR SOMEONE TO SAY THAT WE'RE FOR SOMEONE TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT GOING BE PART OF AN EFFORT NOT GOING BE PART OF AN EFFORT TO PASS COMPREHENSIVE TO PASS COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM.

IMMIGRATION REFORM.

WE HAVE TO COME TO THE POINT TO WE HAVE TO COME TO THE POINT TO SAY WE'RE GOING STOP SPENDING SO SAY WE'RE GOING STOP SPENDING SO MUCH OF OUR LIMITED RESOURCES ON MUCH OF OUR LIMITED RESOURCES ON BOMBS AND MISSILES AND GUNS.

BOMBS AND MISSILES AND GUNS.

AND PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

AND PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] AND WE'RE GOING TO CREATE JOBS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO CREATE JOBS.

THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN AND SEE THAT THEY OUR CHILDREN AND SEE THAT THEY GET THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATION.

GET THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATION.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] BUT I THINK THE BOOK "MARCH," BUT I THINK THE BOOK "MARCH," ONE, AND TWO, AND THREE WERE ONE, AND TWO, AND THREE WERE PROVIDE A WAY OUT TO GIVE PEOPLE PROVIDE A WAY OUT TO GIVE PEOPLE A SPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE SO A SPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE SO YOUNG, THOSE NOT SO YOUNG AND YOUNG, THOSE NOT SO YOUNG AND THOSE YET TO BE BORN, AND AN THOSE YET TO BE BORN, AND AN AVENUE, A WAY TO STAND UP AND AVENUE, A WAY TO STAND UP AND GET POLITICIANS TO SAY YES.

GET POLITICIANS TO SAY YES.

BUT THEY MAY HAVE A DESIRE TO BUT THEY MAY HAVE A DESIRE TO SAY NO.

SAY NO.

>> THE BOOK DEBUTED AT NUMBER >> THE BOOK DEBUTED AT NUMBER ONE ON "THE NEW YORK TIMES" BEST ONE ON "THE NEW YORK TIMES" BEST SELLER LIST.

SELLER LIST.

IT IS SELLING LIKE, IN A WAY IT IS SELLING LIKE, IN A WAY THAT I'M NOT SURE ANYBODY THAT I'M NOT SURE ANYBODY EXPECTED.

EXPECTED.

I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE EXPECTED I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE EXPECTED IT BUT IT HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.

IT BUT IT HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.

IT IS ONE OF A TRILOGY.

IT IS ONE OF A TRILOGY.

THERE WILL BE "MARCH" BOOK ONE, THERE WILL BE "MARCH" BOOK ONE, TWO, AND THREE.

TWO, AND THREE.

WHY COMIC BOOK FORM?

WHY COMIC BOOK FORM?

>> WELL, IT WAS THE MARTIN >> WELL, IT WAS THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., MONTGOMERY LUTHER KING JR., MONTGOMERY STORY THAT INFLUENCED ME AND MY STORY THAT INFLUENCED ME AND MY INVOLVEMENT.

INVOLVEMENT.

I HAD THIS WONDERFUL CO-AUTHOR, I HAD THIS WONDERFUL CO-AUTHOR, A STAFFER WHO CAME TO ME, A FEW A STAFFER WHO CAME TO ME, A FEW YEARS AGO AND SAID, YEARS AGO AND SAID, "CONGRESSMAN, YOU SHOULD WRITE A "CONGRESSMAN, YOU SHOULD WRITE A COMIC BOOK."

COMIC BOOK."

HE HAD TOLD ME THAT HE WAS GOING HE HAD TOLD ME THAT HE WAS GOING TO COMIC CON, AND HE WAS TO COMIC CON, AND HE WAS DISCUSSING WITH SOME OTHER DISCUSSING WITH SOME OTHER CAMPAIGN STAFFERS, AND THEY CAMPAIGN STAFFERS, AND THEY STARTED LAUGHING AT HIM.

STARTED LAUGHING AT HIM.

"SO YOU'RE GOING TO A COMIC BOOK "SO YOU'RE GOING TO A COMIC BOOK CONFERENCE?"

CONFERENCE?"

I SAID YOU SHOULDN'T LAUGH, YOU I SAID YOU SHOULDN'T LAUGH, YOU SHOULDN'T MAKE FUN OF HIM GOING SHOULDN'T MAKE FUN OF HIM GOING TO A COMIC CON.

TO A COMIC CON.

I SAID THERE WAS A COMIC BOOK I SAID THERE WAS A COMIC BOOK THAT INSPIRED ME AND OTHER THAT INSPIRED ME AND OTHER PEOPLE.

PEOPLE.

>> THAT WAS 1958, THE MONTGOMERY >> THAT WAS 1958, THE MONTGOMERY STORY.

STORY.

>> YES, AND IT WAS 14 PAGES, >> YES, AND IT WAS 14 PAGES, SOLD FOR TEN CENTS.

SOLD FOR TEN CENTS.

AND I READ AND IT READ IT AND IT AND I READ AND IT READ IT AND IT BECAME THE GUY FOR A MINISTER IN BECAME THE GUY FOR A MINISTER IN NASHVILLE, IN NORTH CAROLINA, IN NASHVILLE, IN NORTH CAROLINA, IN OTHER PLACES AROUND OUR COUNTRY, OTHER PLACES AROUND OUR COUNTRY, AND AROUND THE WORLD.

AND AROUND THE WORLD.

AND IT KEPT COMING BACK SAYING AND IT KEPT COMING BACK SAYING SHOULD DO IT, YOU SHOULD DO IT.

SHOULD DO IT, YOU SHOULD DO IT.

AND I SAID, YES, IF YOU DO IT AND I SAID, YES, IF YOU DO IT WITH ME.

WITH ME.

SO THE REST IS HISTORY.

SO THE REST IS HISTORY.

AND I WENT TO COMIC CON.

AND I WENT TO COMIC CON.

[ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] >> HOW DID COMIC CON FEEL ABOUT >> HOW DID COMIC CON FEEL ABOUT YOU?

YOU?

>> WELL, -- >> WELL, -- >> I MEAN, DID THEY TREAT YOU >> I MEAN, DID THEY TREAT YOU THE WAY YOU GET TREATED ON THE THE WAY YOU GET TREATED ON THE GROCERY STORE?

GROCERY STORE?

>> THEY TREATED ME VERY WELL.

>> THEY TREATED ME VERY WELL.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, SEVERAL AS A MATTER OF FACT, SEVERAL PEOPLE CAME UP FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE CAME UP FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND SAID WE PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND SAID WE HAVE A REAL HERO HERE.

HAVE A REAL HERO HERE.

IT WAS VERY, VERY, VERY NICE TO IT WAS VERY, VERY, VERY NICE TO ME.

ME.

I'M GOING BACK.

I'M GOING BACK.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

[ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] >> I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO ASK >> I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT YOU DID YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT YOU DID IN THE '90S AT A TIME WHEN YOU IN THE '90S AT A TIME WHEN YOU REALLY STOOD ALONE AND AGAINST REALLY STOOD ALONE AND AGAINST YOUR PARTY.

YOUR PARTY.

IN AN IMPORTANT WAY.

IN AN IMPORTANT WAY.

YOU GAVE AN EMPASSIONED AND TO YOU GAVE AN EMPASSIONED AND TO ME UNEXPECTED SPEECH ON THE ME UNEXPECTED SPEECH ON THE HOUSE FLOOR IN 1996 AGAINST THE HOUSE FLOOR IN 1996 AGAINST THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT.

DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT.

THE BILL CLINTON WORLD LIKES TO THE BILL CLINTON WORLD LIKES TO MAINTAIN, LIKED TO MAINTAIN THE MAINTAIN, LIKED TO MAINTAIN THE HISTORY OF THE CLINTON HISTORY OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTERS AS IF IT WAS GREAT ADMINISTERS AS IF IT WAS GREAT FOR GAY RIGHTS, BUT IT DID GIVE FOR GAY RIGHTS, BUT IT DID GIVE US BOTH DON'T ASK DON'T TELL AND US BOTH DON'T ASK DON'T TELL AND THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT AND THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT AND YOU GAVE AN EMPASSIONED SPEECH YOU GAVE AN EMPASSIONED SPEECH AGAINST IT.

AGAINST IT.

YOU SAID THIS BILL ENCOURAGES YOU SAID THIS BILL ENCOURAGES HATRED OF OUR FELLOW AMERICANS HATRED OF OUR FELLOW AMERICANS FOR POLITICAL ADVANTAGE.

FOR POLITICAL ADVANTAGE.

IT WAS AN UNCOMPROMISING, FIERY IT WAS AN UNCOMPROMISING, FIERY SPEECH AT A TIME WHEN PRESIDENT SPEECH AT A TIME WHEN PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS ABOUT TO SIGN THAT CLINTON WAS ABOUT TO SIGN THAT LAW.

LAW.

DID YOU EVER PERSONALLY HAVE DID YOU EVER PERSONALLY HAVE FEELINGS OF PREJUDICE ABOUT GAY FEELINGS OF PREJUDICE ABOUT GAY PEOPLE, CHAUVINISM ABOUT SEXUAL PEOPLE, CHAUVINISM ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION THAT YOU HAD TO PUT ORIENTATION THAT YOU HAD TO PUT ASIDE.

ASIDE.

>> I TRIED TO TREAT EVERY HUMAN >> I TRIED TO TREAT EVERY HUMAN BEING WITH THE HIGHEST RESPECT BEING WITH THE HIGHEST RESPECT AND LOVE.

AND LOVE.

BUT I'LL NEVER FORGET WHEN WE BUT I'LL NEVER FORGET WHEN WE WERE PLANNING THE MARCH ON WERE PLANNING THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON, IN THE SUMMER, 1963.

WASHINGTON, IN THE SUMMER, 1963.

ONE OF THE BRILLIANT ONE OF THE BRILLIANT UNBELIEVABLE HUMAN BEINGS WAS A UNBELIEVABLE HUMAN BEINGS WAS A MAN BY THE NAME OF -- MAN BY THE NAME OF -- >> MAKES ME SAD EVEN TODAY, WHEN >> MAKES ME SAD EVEN TODAY, WHEN I THINK OF THE WAY THAT HE WAS I THINK OF THE WAY THAT HE WAS TREATED BY THE BLACK LEADERSHIP.

TREATED BY THE BLACK LEADERSHIP.

THEY WERE AFRAID THAT MAYBE SOME THEY WERE AFRAID THAT MAYBE SOME SOUTHERN SENATOR WOULD STANDING SOUTHERN SENATOR WOULD STANDING UP AND SAYING SOMETHING ON THE UP AND SAYING SOMETHING ON THE SENATE FLOOR THAT THE MARCH SENATE FLOOR THAT THE MARCH LEADERSHIP INCLUDED -- HE WAS LEADERSHIP INCLUDED -- HE WAS VERY CLOSE TO PHILIP RANDOLPH, VERY CLOSE TO PHILIP RANDOLPH, AND I REMEMBER SOME OF THE AND I REMEMBER SOME OF THE LEADERS SAID, HE CANNOT BE THE LEADERS SAID, HE CANNOT BE THE CHAIR OF THE MARCH ON CHAIR OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON BECAUSE HE WAS GAY.

WASHINGTON BECAUSE HE WAS GAY.

AND DR.

MARTIN LUTHER KING AND DR.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., JAMES FARMER AND MYSELF, JR., JAMES FARMER AND MYSELF, CAUCUSED AND WE CAME TO THE CAUCUSED AND WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION AFTER THE ARGUMENT CONCLUSION AFTER THE ARGUMENT DISCUSSION, DEBATE, ARGUMENT, DISCUSSION, DEBATE, ARGUMENT, AND SAID, WE WOULD SELECT AND SAID, WE WOULD SELECT PHILIP RANDOLPH AND WE KNEW THAT PHILIP RANDOLPH AND WE KNEW THAT MR.

RANDOLPH WAS UNBELIEVABLE MR.

RANDOLPH WAS UNBELIEVABLE MAN, PICKED HIM AS HIS DEPUTY MAN, PICKED HIM AS HIS DEPUTY AND HE LITERALLY PUT TOGETHER AND HE LITERALLY PUT TOGETHER THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON.

THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON.

AND I'M SO HAPPY AND SO PLEASED AND I'M SO HAPPY AND SO PLEASED THAT IN A FEW WEEKS, PRESIDENT THAT IN A FEW WEEKS, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS GOING TO AWARD BARACK OBAMA IS GOING TO AWARD HIM THE MEDAL OF FREEDOM.

HIM THE MEDAL OF FREEDOM.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] BUT WHEN I TELL YOU PEOPLE WOULD BUT WHEN I TELL YOU PEOPLE WOULD ASK ME ABOUT GAY MARRIAGE, I ASK ME ABOUT GAY MARRIAGE, I HAVE ALWAYS SAID, TRY TO HAVE ALWAYS SAID, TRY TO PARAPHRASE SOMETHING DR.

KING PARAPHRASE SOMETHING DR.

KING WOULD SAY.

WOULD SAY.

AND I HAVE HEARD HIM ON SO MANY AND I HAVE HEARD HIM ON SO MANY OCCASION, PEOPLE ASK HIM ABOUT OCCASION, PEOPLE ASK HIM ABOUT INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE.

INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE.

HE WOULD SAY, RACES DON'T FALL HE WOULD SAY, RACES DON'T FALL IN LOVE AND GET MARRIED.

IN LOVE AND GET MARRIED.

INDIVIDUALS FALL IN LOVE AND GET INDIVIDUALS FALL IN LOVE AND GET MARRIED.

MARRIED.

SO, I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION SO, I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IF TWO GUYS WANT TO FALL IN THAT IF TWO GUYS WANT TO FALL IN LOVE AND GET MARRIED, IT IS LOVE AND GET MARRIED, IT IS THEIR BUSINESS.

THEIR BUSINESS.

IF TWO WOMEN WANT TO FALL IN IF TWO WOMEN WANT TO FALL IN LOVE AND GET MARRIED, IT IS LOVE AND GET MARRIED, IT IS THEIR BUSINESS.

THEIR BUSINESS.

IT IS BETTER TO LOVE.

IT IS BETTER TO LOVE.

IT IS BETTER TO LOVE.

IT IS BETTER TO LOVE.

AND NO GOVERNMENT, STATE OR AND NO GOVERNMENT, STATE OR FEDERAL, SHOULD TELL PEOPLE WHO FEDERAL, SHOULD TELL PEOPLE WHO THEY SHOULD FALL IN LOVE WITH THEY SHOULD FALL IN LOVE WITH AND GET MARRIED TO.

AND GET MARRIED TO.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] I HAVE ALWAYS ACCEPTED THAT.

I HAVE ALWAYS ACCEPTED THAT.

>> I ONLY HAVE ONE OTHER >> I ONLY HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION FOR YOU, SIR.

QUESTION FOR YOU, SIR.

YOU ARE -- YOU'RE 73 NOW?

YOU ARE -- YOU'RE 73 NOW?

>> 73 BUT I FEEL MUCH YOUNGER.

>> 73 BUT I FEEL MUCH YOUNGER.

[ LAUGHTER ] [ LAUGHTER ] >> YOU WERE 15 AND GROWING UP IN >> YOU WERE 15 AND GROWING UP IN ALABAMA WHEN THE MONTGOMERY BUS ALABAMA WHEN THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT HAPPENED.

BOYCOTT HAPPENED.

YOU DON'T LIVE FAR FROM YOU DON'T LIVE FAR FROM MONTGOMERY.

MONTGOMERY.

YOU WERE 18 WHEN YOU WROTE TO YOU WERE 18 WHEN YOU WROTE TO DR.

KING AND MET DR.

KING.

DR.

KING AND MET DR.

KING.

17 WHEN YOU MET ROSA PARKS.

17 WHEN YOU MET ROSA PARKS.

YOU WERE 20 YEARS OLD WHEN YOU YOU WERE 20 YEARS OLD WHEN YOU WERE FIRST ARRESTED AT THE WERE FIRST ARRESTED AT THE WOOLWORTH'S LUNCH COUNTER IN WOOLWORTH'S LUNCH COUNTER IN NASHVILLE.

NASHVILLE.

YOU WERE 23 WHEN YOU GAVE THE YOU WERE 23 WHEN YOU GAVE THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE MARCH ON KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON.

YOU WERE 25 WHEN YOU WERE BEATEN YOU WERE 25 WHEN YOU WERE BEATEN ON THAT BRIDGE IN SELMA.

ON THAT BRIDGE IN SELMA.

YOU'RE 73 NOW.

YOU'RE 73 NOW.

FROM ALL OF THOSE DAYS, WITH ALL FROM ALL OF THOSE DAYS, WITH ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT YOU WORKED OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT YOU WORKED WITH, WITH ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WITH, WITH ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT YOU LEARNED FROM AND WERE THAT YOU LEARNED FROM AND WERE INSPIRED BY AND ORGANIZED WITH, INSPIRED BY AND ORGANIZED WITH, THE LEADERS WHO ROSE AS YOU ROSE THE LEADERS WHO ROSE AS YOU ROSE AS A VERY YOUNG MAN OF ALL OF AS A VERY YOUNG MAN OF ALL OF THEM, YOU ARE THE SURVIVOR.

THEM, YOU ARE THE SURVIVOR.

IS THAT LONELY?

IS THAT LONELY?

>> I THINK ABOUT PEOPLE THAT I >> I THINK ABOUT PEOPLE THAT I WAS INVOLVED WITH, PEOPLE THAT I WAS INVOLVED WITH, PEOPLE THAT I MARCHED WITH, ORGANIZED WITH, MARCHED WITH, ORGANIZED WITH, AND VERY FEW OF THOSE AND VERY FEW OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE LEFT.

INDIVIDUALS ARE LEFT.

SO I CANNOT PICK UP THE SO I CANNOT PICK UP THE TELEPHONE AND CALL MARTIN LUTHER TELEPHONE AND CALL MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

AND SAY "HOW ARE YOU KING JR.

AND SAY "HOW ARE YOU DOING, DR.

KING?

DOING, DR.

KING?

WHAT IS IT LIKE."

WHAT IS IT LIKE."

HE WAS VERY YOUNG.

HE WAS VERY YOUNG.

HE WAS VERY YOUNG.

HE WAS VERY YOUNG.

ASSASSINATED AT THE AGE OF 39.

ASSASSINATED AT THE AGE OF 39.

TO SPEAK TO WHITNEY YOUNG WHO TO SPEAK TO WHITNEY YOUNG WHO WAS BORN HERE IN KENTUCKY, WAS BORN HERE IN KENTUCKY, UNBELIEVABLE MAN.

UNBELIEVABLE MAN.

PHILIP RANDOLPH AND OTHERS.

PHILIP RANDOLPH AND OTHERS.

THAT'S WHY I CRIED SO MUCH AT THAT'S WHY I CRIED SO MUCH AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE THE INAUGURATION OF THE PRESIDENT IN 2009.

PRESIDENT IN 2009.

I KEPT THINKING ABOUT PRESIDENT I KEPT THINKING ABOUT PRESIDENT KENNEDY, THAT I MET IN 1963 AT KENNEDY, THAT I MET IN 1963 AT 23.

23.

I GOT TO KNOW HIS BROTHER ROBERT I GOT TO KNOW HIS BROTHER ROBERT KENNEDY VERY WELL.

KENNEDY VERY WELL.

HIS OTHER BROTHER TEDDY KENNEDY.

HIS OTHER BROTHER TEDDY KENNEDY.

YOU MISS THESE INDIVIDUALS.

YOU MISS THESE INDIVIDUALS.

YOU MISS THESE INDIVIDUALS.

YOU MISS THESE INDIVIDUALS.

AND SOMETIMES SITTING ON THE AND SOMETIMES SITTING ON THE HOUSE FLOOR I SAID TO MYSELF, I HOUSE FLOOR I SAID TO MYSELF, I WONDER WHAT DR.

KING WOULD BE WONDER WHAT DR.

KING WOULD BE SAYING?

SAYING?

WHAT WOULD HE DO?

WHAT WOULD HE DO?

WHEN I SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE WHEN I SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE WAR IN IRAN, I KEPT SAYING, WE WAR IN IRAN, I KEPT SAYING, WE NEED A SPEECH FROM DR.

KING NEED A SPEECH FROM DR.

KING THAT HE SPOKE ON APRIL 4, THAT HE SPOKE ON APRIL 4, 1967 AT THE RIVERSIDE CHURCH.

1967 AT THE RIVERSIDE CHURCH.

BUT I'M INSPIRED THAT I KNOW HOW BUT I'M INSPIRED THAT I KNOW HOW THEY LIVED AND WHAT THEY TAUGHT THEY LIVED AND WHAT THEY TAUGHT ME.

ME.

>> REPRESENTATIVE JOHN LEWIS, IT >> REPRESENTATIVE JOHN LEWIS, IT IS SUCH AN HONOR.

IS SUCH AN HONOR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ]