Anniversary of the arrival of captive africans in north america. Today is one of reflection and one of celebration. We are gathered in the front lawn of an historic institution, the oldest Cultural Organization of the commonwealth. For 200 years weve been collecting materials for the purpose of telling the story of this place. Some 14 million artifacts are housed in the walls behind me. We have much to be proud of. We have so very much we must do to be the state museum we deserve, to represent all and welcome all. [applause] dr. Carter, the man considered black history, wrote those who have no record of their forebears lose the inspiration that comes from the teaching of history. How true. We must do more and we will. We are committed at the museum to a Bright Future dedicated to inclusion and access. The exhibit is a legacy project of the 2019 commemoration, american evolution, which remembers events that occurred in virginia in 1619 and continues to influence America Today including the arrival of enslaved africans. I hope you will learn more about all the activities this year. With the support of bank of america and supporters conrad and peggy hall, we have done Something Special that we are proud of and i hope you will take time to see it and to learn , learn the stories of 30 virginians, stories of people like arthur ashe, stories of perseverance and progress. Stories that remind us of the work still to be done. Historyuae for this reason. It gives us perspective to make us better people and a better community. This is why commemorations like today are important. This is why dedications are important. We are fortunate to have a distinguished assembly. I would like to make a few acknowledgments to the members of the city council. Thank you for your support and for making this happen. [applause] mayor, your our team has been a remarkable partner in making the program possible. Thank you. I would like to commend the many employees who contributed their talents to make today possible. Dozens of them under the leadership of salina. Thank you to all of them. I would like to acknowledge the representatives of the commonwealth, including members youhe general assembly, if would please waive and be recognized. [applause] like to acknowledge the National Representatives including members of the Congressional Black Caucus, congresswoman presley, john lewis, as well as our virginia representatives, bobby scott, don mceachin. [applause] morning, us this senator tim kaine. [applause] now i would like all members of the arthur ashe extended family to wave so we can clap for you. [applause] it is my pleasure to invite mr. Tom farrell, to extend his welcome, which he does with our appreciation for the sponsorship of todays ceremony. Good morning, everyone. Today marks a bold step forward for our city. Many folks remember the hard work to build to build the arthur ashe statue now almost 25 years ago. Like many things important in richmond, it was controversial. Lots of people had reasons not to build it or to build it somewhere else or to do Something Else altogether. It was not easy. Richmond is a better place because political and Civic Leaders took action. Leaders like senator tim kaine who served on the city council representing the Second District. [applause] he helped to that celebration possible. Kim gray represents the second today. She helped make today possible. We should all thank her for her leadership. These efforts demonstrate what can happen when good people who love our city come together and persevere despite all the hurdles and naysayers. Two of my friends did that a generation ago. First was a political leader, benny lambert. He served on the board of directors and was my boss. He dedicated his life to serving the city and state. He led the campaign to build a statue. His partner was a Business Leader who was the chief Financial Officer of dominion energy. Tom had played tennis with arthur ashe in the 1960s. Because the law kept us divided, they had to sneak around to do it. Tohur ashe was not allowed play at the tennis courts. His father would pick tom up and take them to the north side of would standn he guard to make sure nobody harassed them. Those courts are long gone. Hey were in a park eventually the post office got built on that site. Theres actually a lot of richmond history in that story. When it came time to honor arthur ashe, they achieved a wonderful thing. Today we honor arthur ashe in this new way. Not because of tennis or wimbledon or the fact he lived here. We honor him because he believed in serving people. His community was the world. He taught us to call injustice from apartheid to poverty. [applause] he valued education. His parents taught him learning shapes human dignity. He believed in inclusion, despite the fact he grew up in a city that did not. He believes everyone deserved a job and the chance to work so they could contribute to society. He believed everyone deserves an affordable place to live. He believed in a future that is different from the past. All of us believe those things. He also believed in learning from the example set by great people who had come before him like john lewis. There are a lot of distinguished political leaders up here [applause] and he is almost here. [laughter] the governor has done a lot to make 90 work better. Looks like it could use more help, governor. [laughter] we should all be proud to have such a distinguished leader come to richmond to do this event. [applause] i believe it is important to name the values that are thrash lived by, because today is not only about honoring such a great man, it is also about ourselves and the values that we want to shape the future of our hometown. We believe in a richmond that welcomes everyone. When it learns from our past and builds a future that is better for everyone. We believe in holding ourselves accountable to each other, and we believe in looking forward, because we have a lot of work to do to shape the future we all believe it. Today we dedicate ourselves to the words that are thrash chose. Ashe because we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight for the sin which so easily nears us. Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Thank you. [applause] thank you, tom for your lasting support. We appreciate it. Ladies and gentlemen, if you are able, please no rise for the presentation of colors by the army colorguard in the singing of the National Anthem by representatives of six Mount Zion Baptist church of richmond. O, say, can you see by the dawns early light hailed at they we twilights last gleaming . Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, watched ramparts we were so gallantly streaming . Red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night there. R flag was still say, does that starspangled banner yet wave freethe land of the and the home of the brave . [applause] ladies and gentlemen, if you are able, please remain standing. It is my pleasure to invite forward river and grady powell. In addition to being a longtime pastor at the historical field Baptist Church of petersburg, virginia, here is a dear friend of the museum. His leadership helped face the future, his Life Experience continues to inspire us. Reverend grady powell. [applause] would you bow your heads and let us pray . Spirit, whose presence has been with us from one generation to another, we thank you for your kind investments in all of us, most especially we are grateful for the gift of time that has steered us to do and to be good. Yesteryear, of which is a part of our history, that have lifted humankind for the making of a better word, we say thank you. Please forgive us for those times we have used our gifts to divide, to subjugate, and to destroy. And preservation of these gifts which spanned over 400 years by this organization, the Virginia Museum of history and culture, these acts give us a clear picture of who we have been. We pray that in reading and observing this history we will devote ourselves to building that world that is most pleasing to thee, amen. Please be seated. Ladies and gentlemen, governor of the commonwealth of virginia, ralph northam. [applause] please be seated. Good morning. The Virginia Museum of history and culture for hosting this gathering today, and thanks to all of you for being here on this important occasion. To our congressional delegations representing other states, welcome to virginia. This year we mark the 400th anniversary of virginias long history of representative the arrival of enslaved africans. We must remember that our history is complex, the story of virginia is rooted in the simultaneous pursuit of both liberty and enslavement. A full accounting demands that we confront and discuss those aspects of our history, and it demands that we look not just to a point in time 400 years in the our, but at how commonwealth and our country has evolved over the course of those for centuries how did we live up to our ideals, or failed to do so . We are examining these issues in various ways this year through and otherforums, american evolution events, and we are also looking at this thatry through exhibits determine the 400 year black a quality struggle. AfricanAmerican History, black history, is American History. [applause] and the way that we teach that history is inadequate and ccurate, [applause] which makes exhibits like this all the more important as we continue to work to rewrite the narrative. My hope and intention is that virginia will take long overdue action on addressing the racial inequities that exist today. [applause] i am grateful for the Virginia Museum of history and culture for taking up this important conversation. We need to continue to have this kind of dialogue, because when we know more, we can do more. Man who also honor a challenged the limitations society placed on men of his skin color, and by doing so, advanced the struggle for equality. By breaking down racial barriers and tenants, arthur ashe achieved much more than sports fame. That legacy is why we are here to honor him today. Arthur ashe was a groundbreaker, and i am proud to be here today as we honor his legacy. Thank you and may god bless all of you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the sixth out Zion Baptist Church choir of richmond, virginia. [applause] [applause] [applause] ladies and gentlemen, United States senator from virginia tim kaine. [applause] how about another great hand for six mount zion . [applause] a beautiful congregation formed by freed slaves right after the civil war and the reverend john jasper, good to have you here with us. Together with all of you richmond friends. I want to thank the museum in all the elected officials here today, especially members of the Congressional Black Caucus who were visiting virginia to participate in the forum later this afternoon give them a big welcome. [applause] be here with my federal colleague Donald Mceachin and bobby scott together. [applause] together, we were the sponsors of the congressional bill signed by President Trump that commemorates 2019 and forms a celebrate 400 years of africanAmerican History in this country. There was a federal commission in 2007 to commemorate 400 years of the english roots of this nation, there was a federal commission in 2015 to commemorate 450 years of the hispanic roots of this nation. If english roots matter, if hispanic roots matter, then african roots matter. [applause] and i applaud my colleagues for their work. My role today in the program is oldtimer. [laughter] i know i dont look that old, do i . But my role today is oldtimer, because 24 years ago when i was , hadyounger, much thinner a lot more hair and it was much darker, i was a newly elected member of the Richmond City council as we engaged with our community in a very, very memorable debate about whether arthur ashes statue should be placed on monument avenue just a few miles from here. Some of you were around hyper happily hold viola is here because she was a member who played such a role in that debate. Give viola and all the 1994 counsel around of applause. [applause] controversial, there were protests, there were discussions, there were different points of view. He verl said it well if should be recognized at all if you should, should he be recognized on monument avenue. Some said monument avenue should be reserved for civil war generals and others said it was not good enough for arthur ashe. We talked about all of that at the time. Finished in the seven hour Council Meeting that lasted until 1 30 in the morning, where hundreds of people came and spoke. Pulitzer prizewinning Washington Post journalist tony horwitz who died within the last two months came to cover that event. Heres what he wrote. I came expecting an angry meeting, but what i witnessed instead was a thoughtful discussion on public art, the potency of historic symbols, racial healing, and affirmative action. Thats what richmond did at the time, and the decision to place the statue on monument avenue was a healing in a city and commonwealth in country that still needs healing to this day. [applause] i want to congratulate the mayor and the city council especially tim gray for this active healing. The naming of the boulevard, a principal gateway into our city, to honor the great arthur ashe. [applause] questionle ask the about whether names or naming or renaming are important. Names are very important. The power to name is very important. Let me prove it to you. In the book of genesis, the story of the formation of the world and of man and woman in the garden of eden what is the first power that god gives the man . The power to name. Sacred a story that is to jews and christians and muslims it is in the koran, the story is well known. To beves us command fruitful and multiply, god gives a warning, dont eat from that tree or something bad will happen, and god gives a power, the first power given to man was the power to name all of the animals in the world stop god could have named all the animals god was god. But god decided that it was very important for man to be able to choose the names of those around them, choose the names of those that would be given to his reality. He brought them to man to see what he would call them, and the man chosen name for each one. Naming is important, this is not a minor thing we are doing today. We have to acknowledge that so many of the names on a map of richmond, on a map of virginia, on a map of this country, so many of the names were not chosen by a full community invested with the power to choose their name of their reality or tell the story about who they were. So many of the names we live with were chosen by a tiny, tiny subset of people who do not represent the full community of our city or state or nation today. Act to rectify that. Arthur ashe boulevard is a name chosen by the people he representing richmonds full community, and that makes this [applause] and that makes this a very great day for our city, and hopefully a day that will be followed by many more such days. Thank you so much, it is great to be with you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, mr. David harris, nephew of arthur ashe. [applause] good morning. It seems im using modern Technology Today where everyone else has a book. Bear with me. Senator tim kaine, thank you for your kind words. Thank you for supporting this effort and this commonwealth and this state. Additionally, richmond, this is truly a spectacular and momentous day. [applause] one we should never forget. Ethic. Orts together are today we are letting the world discrimination, exclusionary tactics, lack of investment in our children, education, and people is bankrupt. [applause] these no longer support ideals. Gatekeeperurself a to discrimination and exclusionary tactics, you have the keys to death. [applause] to mr. Jamie bosket, we met over a year ago. The moment we walked in the and iyou said yes, realize that was the easiest sales pitch i ever had. You. T to thank you have been a gracious host. You have contributed significantly. I will tell you this there are many who avoided this building right here behind me because of whats inside. Considerwant you to this building is now fully integrated by the city of richmond. [applause] we areweve discussed, going to partner with you in bringing more and different faces, peoples, ideals, and thoughts into this building and to be a beacon to the world. [applause] i need to give thanks and gratitude to councilwoman kim gray. [applause] it is pretty hard to get with the councilperson and have a good, open dialogue and conversation. She also said yes right away. We knew it was risky. We chose to do the right thing at the right time. You are courageous and you are a gracious leader. To counsel, inc. You for joining us. [applause] the fight and struggle israel, but today is a celebration. Please pat yourselves on the back, because you truly have let us. Least, i must thank the mayor of our city. [applause] from the beginning, he said yes, which is amazing. We have heard no a lot of times in this world. People. Uly a man of the , thatildren of this city is truly phenomenal. You have made it possible for the world to see what real leadership looks like. Continue to lead with your heart named the we have street after. Iou a debt of gratitude. Thank you. [applause] good afternoon, richmond, how are we doing . Isnt this a Beautiful Day in the city of richmond . Today, we celebrate a true champion, a champion not only on the tennis court but on the world stage, for civil rights and for racial equality. David, thank you for the introduction and all you have done to make this day a reality. Lets give him around of applause, everyone. [applause] now only to preserve and share an important part of your familys legacy. But also to literally market important time and a physical place that will from this day forward be known as arthur ashe boulevard. [applause] thats right, arthur ashe boulevard. Arthur ashe boulevard. I would be remiss if i did not acknowledge the work and action of our Richmond City council. Ofparticular, the efforts our Second District councilwoman, kim gray. [applause] miss gray carried the legislation that the Council Passed without opposition, making this welldeserved and longoverdue name change possible. Thank you, councilwoman gray, and the city council. [applause] outi want to give a shout to all the relatives of arthur ashe who are here today. Would you please wave your hands to be recognized again . [applause] ladies and gentlemen, this is what progress looks like. For too long, words like ambition change, and have been considered bad words in the city of richmond. Knowchmond, folks did not that those were arthur ashes keywords. As many of you know, richmond was a different place when arthur ashe was growing up here, a place that was not welcoming , a commonof color refrain im sure those like arthur heard was how do you dare want change and be black . How dare you want progress and be black . How dare you be ambitious and be black . Growing up, arthur ashe was the tennisss to courts just south of here, instead he played tennis at brookfield park, a segregated playground near his home. Despite the adversity he faced right here in his hometown, by sheer talent, perseverance, arthur ashe wrought change to the game of tennis. World. Ght change to this on june only fitting 22, 2019, his name and his legacy bring both symbolic and real change to the city of richmond with this renaming of thend the renaming barack obama elementary school. [applause] and erecting a new statue to the great Maggie Lena Walker and and our city is transforming. Itis changing its future and is triumphant over its past. Asheu all may know, arthur already has a statue in our city ismonument avenue, and he the only true champion on that block. [applause] but i believe, i believe naming the boulevard after him is just as powerful and even more meaningful. Ladies and gentlemen, this stretch of state route 161 will never be the same after today. Today, route 161 is getting an upgrade. Boulevard here today after arthur ashe, we are once again partnering with our darker past and embracing our brighter future. That isaking a pledge not simply in paint in steel street signs but in our hearts. We are reaffirming our commitment to fairness by creating opportunities for everyone. We are reaffirming our commitment to equality by protecting everyone. We are reaffirming our commitment to being inclusive regardless of who you are, the color of your skin, where you come from, how you worship, or who you love. [applause] and in the scorekeeping of tennis, the game that arthur ashe loved and accelerated out so well, we are reaffirming our commitment to love. To liftour neighbor, them up and not write them off, to connect and unify, not divide and conquer. To put aside differences and focus instead on seeking Common Ground and common understanding. Hink arthur said it best we must reach out our hand in friendship and dignity, both those who would befriend us and those who would be our enemy. Simply put, arthur ashe boulevard symbolizes the city we want to be, and are becoming each and every day as we build one richmond. What better time and place to continue this work that in commemorate 400 years since the first enslaved african arrived on the shores of the state. Extraordinary the work at our friends of the Virginia Museum of history and culture. On the shoulders of the generations and legacies of the great men and women who came before us, men like congressman john lewis who honors us with his presence today. [applause] you will here. Yall know it. Ont kno oh, hes here. Still, 95 is tought. [laughter] and now at the intersection of our citys past and present, it is our duty to take the next step in our journey down the path that leads the way for future generations. We already have a map, a road to follow that will take us in the right direction. Lets follow it together. Its called arthur ashe boulevard. [applause] thank you, richmond, and god bless you. [applause] it is now my honor and distinct pleasure to welcome my friend in my congressman, the congressman for the fourth Congressional District, mr. Donald mceachin. [applause] good morning, richmond. Welcome to virginias finest Congressional District, the fourth Congressional District of virginia. [applause] mayor, i want to thank you, and i want to thank all the dignitaries and people who are with us on this solomon important occasion. Today is an emotional day for me and i hope we can get through this chat without shedding too many tears. When you walk into that exhibit in the first thing you see is these faceless figures with 20 some oddly gross, it just grabs you. Later, 56nk 400 years of their children had the honor and privilege of serving in the United States congress. God is good all the time. [applause] as i stand here today, almost inside of the confederate chapel, i am reminded how far we have come and, yes, how far we have to go. Im reminded that we stand on the shoulders of those who come before, on the shoulders of those who make sacrifice to improve our lives. Whether it was an enslaved individual risking harsh and severe punishment to seek freedom, or even to learn to read or learn to worship or those who after the civil war risked their lives and lynchings for incremental improvements. Those who try to overcome jim crow or struggled to pay an outrageous poll tax on literacy tests to try and vote. The rank supposedly given to them by the constitution. Those who knew in their hearts and eyes that separate but equal was a fiction, one more depravity to keep people down and treat them as less than human. Counters,sat at lunch who refused to go to the back of and those children who risked mocking and isolation and even violence, and those children who took risks, recognizing that their Second School would never prepare them to succeed or lead like our own virginian barbara jones. Used their own stature and hardearned education to get the gist of the judicial system to break down the racist systems in place like our own oliver hill. Withhose who said yes everyone else saying no, those who knew that with work and encourage, barriers can be such as the first africanamerican governor in the United States, here in virginia, and the confederate capital. [applause] and as we all know, many barriers still exist. Systematic racism still permeates our country. 400 years after the forced migration of africans to british north america. We we have these examples, have these shoulders to stand on, and in our own time, we still have heroes willing to stand up and risk insult and injury to help all those supplies out. That is what gives me hope and inspiration. I see people brought hereunder under the worst conditions imaginable, seen as nothing but property and secondclass citizens. I see people who believe, who will assist and fight until we and theave the ideals reality of this country. Are severaloday folks who are heroes, who stood ay icongress fight to dismantle the racist and bigoted system of laws that still hold people back. It means so much to folks of the Congressional Black Caucus. Our chair from california [applause] day. E inspires me each her knowledge, her fearlessness, her eyes on the prize make me proud to be a soldier in her army. The history of our home state in california, when the California Assembly elected her as speaker, making her the first african woman in history to serve in this role. C, she is our northstar, providing invaluable leadership and guidance. Someone who i know needs no introduction. My mentor, my northstar, my congressman bobby scott. [applause] he is the dean of the congressional virginia delegation, and you know that when he speaks everyone listens. And i dont just mean another representative or africanamerican, i dont just mean democrats, all the virginians know he speak with wisdom, compassion, and straight from the heart. Congresswoman Ayana Pressley will be here later on tonight. Shes here now. [applause] me,has kept her promise to to come north in massachusetts to the real commonwealth here in virginia. She may be the newest member of the cbc, but as a freshman, she brings experience and knowledge and inspiration. She has broken barriers her entire life, most recently as the first woman of color elected from massachusetts and previously the first woman of color elected to the bostons city council and its 100 year history. [applause] her life demonstrates her belief to lift the voices of those she today, today we are incredibly fortunate to have a singular hero with us, a man whose name is synonymous with courage and conviction, someone on whose shoulders we all stand and who is an inspiration not only to me but to so many every single day in the United States congress. I have to admit as a delegate and a state senator that man was an inspiration, but never someone i thought i would actually meet and see him in the halls of congress had listened to his words of wisdom it has been a lifechanging experience for me. For those of you, and i cant imagine there are many of you who dont know the story of the incredible john lewis, let me review some highlights. Born the son of sharecroppers in alabama and forced to go to johngated public schools, lewis was inspired at an early age to join the Civil Rights Movement to make a difference for his people in his community. Even as a college student, he organized counter sit ins and participated in freedom rides all across the south, challenging segregation at bus terminals and elsewhere. He was severely beaten by angry mobs within an inch of his life. Lewis4, congressman coordinated Voter Registration efforts during the mississippi freedom summer. 1965, and now but appearing in history books, he had jose overams organized to lift 600 peaceable protesters over the Edmund Pettus bridge. These peaceful, nonviolent protesters were met by Alabama State troopers in the valley confrontation that became known as bloody sunday. News coverage of this assault on innocent people helped move congress to pass the long overdue Civil Rights Act of 1965. Johnthe next 20 years, lewis continued his dedicated leadership, both in terms of bringing rates and bringing them out of poverty. Held diverse positions such as the director of the Voter Education process. In 1977 he was appointed by president carter as the head of action, the federal volatility agency seeing over 250,000 volunteers. In 1981, he was elected to the atlanta city council, and in 1986 elected to congress from georges fifth district. He continues to hold numerous leadership positions in congress. Congressman lewiss civil contributions to civil rights has been recognized by numerous accolades. He has received and richly deserves, including over 50 honorary degrees from prestigious universities and numerous awards, including the medal of freedom, our highest civilian award given to him by president barack obama. [applause] in addition, he is a recipient of the only Lifetime Achievement profile in courage award given by the jfk library foundation. In addition, he is the coauthor of the bestselling graphic novel called march. This important work is used in classrooms around the country to teach the Civil Rights Movements and to lead us to inspire our next generation of leaders. I could go on and on, but you are not here to hear me, and if i did, i would still barely skim his biography. I will stop now because he has inspired all the work we do, inspired by his words. A truly great american, richmond, give a warm welcome to congressman john lewis. [applause] thank you. Thank you very much. Mceachin, brother thank you for those kind words of introduction. I love you, too. [laughter] i love each and everyone of you. [applause] its a Beautiful Day here. You, it is good to be in virginia. It is good to be here in richmond. King, governor [laughter] its just good to be here. [applause] 400 years later, its good to be here. All of the elected officials, you look good. You look smart. To be here with my colleagues for congress, the chair of the cbc. Congressperson, who i mentioned earlier. Barbara scott. To be here with your wonderful here with my sister from the northeast, congresswoman presley. You know, so much is going through my mind. I have a prepared text, but im not going to use it. Im almost overcome. Later, 400 years later, this young brother, the , can become the lieutenant governor. [applause] a young man by the name of arthur scott can become a congressperson. In this young brother here follows in the great line of leaders becoming mayor. Governor, thank you for being you. Senator, thank you for being you. Call of the honorably elected officials, getting in on the way, getting in good trouble, necessary trouble. I didnt grow up in a big city like richmond. I didnt grow up in a big city like washington, d. C. Or los angeles or boston. I grew up in rural alabama on a farm. My father was a sharecropper, a tenant farmer. But back in 1944, when i was father hadold, my saved 300 and a man sold him 100 acres of land. My family still owns this land today. [applause] dorian, many many days and it wasars long before we came over the ocean 400 years ago to this land. We learned to pick cotton. We learned the work in the tobacco fields. We learned to plow mules. Sometimes we were beaten and left for dead. Up, we nevergave gave in, we never lost hope, we kept the faith and we kept our eyes on the prize. Somebody somewhere should have said thank you. Know theres some people in America Today who have said nothings changed, but let me tell you, we live in a different america. When i was growing up and working in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, people had constant with a bar of soap, the number of jellybeans in a jar, people stood in immovable lines. We no longer have to count , no longerin a jar had to count the numbers of bars of soap, because somebody somewhere and sometime gave a and during this season that is coming up, none of us and it has never mattered whether we are black or white, latino, asianamerican, or native american, straight or gay we must come out and vote like we have never, ever voted before. [applause] our democracy is in trouble, big trouble. We must save our democracy and save our country. We can do it. We must do it. Up and had towing go to the field and work and sometimes i would fall behind, and my mother would say you need to catch up this was hard work, and she would say hard work never killed anybody. I said its about to kill me. [laughter] during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, we went from sunup to sundown the same way we worked in the field. Growing up there in rural alabama outside a little town called troy 50 miles from montgomery, i saw the signs that said whiteman, colored women, white waiting, colored waiting. I asked my mother and father and grandparents and greatgrandparents why. And they said thats the way it is. Dont get in trouble. Dont get in the way. But the actions of rosa parks, the words from Martin Luther king, jr. , and the young people in little rock, and even here in a youngy there was man from selma, alabama, some of the lawyers remember this case, warrington versus greyhound. They were arrested. It was a student. Seat in the socalled white waiting room. It became the boynton case. Because of what happened here, we decided to organize something called the freedom rides. I was 21 years old, had all of my hair and a few pounds later. People in61, black white people couldnt be seated on a Greyhound Bus together, leaving the nations capital. In may of 1961, 13 of us, blackandwhite, mutt in washington dc under the leadership of cory and the man by the name of james former, organize the freedom rides of 1960. [applause] beaten,e way, we were and i will never forget in a wetle town called rock hill, attempted to get off the bus. My sleep mate was a young white gentleman from connecticut. We were escorted to a white waiting room and we were beaten, left many years later, the young man came to myten us office in washington, d. C. Mr. Lewis, i have been a member of the klan. Im one of the people who beat you. Will you forgive me . He was in his 70s. He brought his son in his 40s. His son started crying, he started crying. They hugged me, i hugged them back. And i cried. It is the power of the way of peace, the power of the way of love. The power of the discipline of our environment. We must never ever give up on any human being. [applause] we must have the power to forgive. We cannot remake what happened 400 years ago, but we are here today as one people, as one house living in americas house. [applause] call in trouble, what i good trouble, necessary trouble. For all the young people here, my colleagues in congress, it is time for us to get in trouble again. Good trouble, necessary trouble. My philosophy is very simple. When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, say something. Do do something. Something. You cannot afford to be silent. In the 1960s, i was arrested and jailed 40 times. Since i have been in congress, i have been arrested another five times. Im probably going to get arrested again for something. [laughter] [applause] t when ourbe silen government, the federal government is taking little children, little babies from their mothers and their fathers and put them in cages. We should say something. We should stand up and do something. [applause] as we celebrate, as we commemorate, lets think, what are we doing . What are we saying . My colleagues know that im not a long talker. And, i try to make it short. I try to speak through action. Tired, justk and sick and tired of what has happened on sony levels i many n our government. [applause] and i dont want to be political today. But, i think it is time for us to get anyway. To get in trouble. Sitin, just sit. If it is a sitdown, sit down. The democratic members two years ago, occupied the floor of the house of representatives for the first time in history for more than 26 hours trying to do something about gun violence. Weve got to stop it, the madness. Beshould have the right to safe at school. To be safe in church. Club. E at a party, a we must have that right. We all are human. We must be protected. By government. We dont need all of these guns. We dont. We dont need all of these guns. [applause] putust stop the killing and an end to the violence. We can do it and we must do it. I go back to another point i tried to make earlier. So many, so many of our brothers and sisters, so many of our mothers and fathers never had an opportunity to register to vote. To cast a vote. So when president barack obama was elected, was declared the high at dr. Mped so kings old church in atlanta speaking. I didnt think my feet were going to touch the ground. I started crying and members of the press asked me why are you crying so much, john lewis . Im crying for those who never had an opportunity. Never ever had an opportunity to register to vote. Lived to see a man of color elected president of the United States of america. [applause] crying from another and my father and my grandparents and my great grandparents. Crying for those murdered in firming him in the church. Crying for dr. King and many till and many others. Rosa parks, president kennedy and robert kennedy. Two young men that i got to know very well. Sometimes you have to cry. There is nothing anything wrong there is nothing wrong with crying. Sometimes it is a way to move the tears and get up again and again and again and keep coming. Ive said to each and every one of the, especially young people here, never ever give up. Never ever get lost in a sea of despair. Keep the faith. Keep your eyes on the prize. Get in trouble. Change things for the better. We can do it. And get a good and great education, young people. Stay in school. Prepared to fight the good fight. Were one people, one family. We all live in the same house. Not just the american house, but the world house. It doesnt matter whether we are black or white, latino, asian american, or native american, we are one people. In the way ofe peace, in the way of love, in the philosophy and discipline of nonviolence. Andhe teachings of dr. King gandhi, our mothers and our fathers, many of us would not be standing here today. Verygain, im very, hopeful, very optimistic about the future. There are forces that want to take us back. We are not going back. We are not going back. Were going forward. We are going to create one america. We are one people, were one family. We all live in the same house, the american house, the world house. Never ever give up. Keep the faith. Thank you very much. [applause] thank you. Mr. Lewis im glad to note members of the arthur ashe family are here. Arthur ashe, glad you have changed the name of the boulevard to arthur ashe. Was a good friend. In our home in atlanta, there is a picture with arthur ashe and my wife when he came to visit us many years ago. About what arthur ashe did and the contribution he made. He came out of this state and out of this city. Thank you very much. [applause] gentlemen, the allegra folklore society. [drums playing] can you hear me . All right. The drums call us. The drum connects us. The drum strengthens us. The drum encourages us. Affirms that we are determined. Evolved,pt of the drum congressman lewis, into a drum major, where like our namesake, he or she opens the road. Opens the boulevard so that the people can come through. [applause] root we are going to the right now. Africa soogy of west that we can continue to live this day as our ancestral sister would call it, as a let it be known affair. [drums playing] [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the mayor of the city of richmond, levar stony. Another big round of applause to the allegra folklore society. [applause] [applause] yeah look at that talent we have in the city of richmond, right . By right, i want to end extending a special thanks to jamie bosket, the entire staff at the Virginia Museum of history and culture which put on this fabulous event. Lets give a round of applause. [applause] vhncs boldly leading the way in advancing our understanding of our commonwealths past with a view towards the future, as evidenced by the exhibit that just opened. If you have not gone, i ask you go today. Determined is an appropriate way to describe the current exhibit, but also the mission of vmhc. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of david harris, the nephew of arthur ashe. [applause] with Dontrese Brown helped bring in key sponsors like dimming and energy and spearheaded the outreach around the arthur ashe initiative. They help turn a street renaming into the National Celebration of our city and an American Hero that was long overdue. Also due to our regional and State Government partners in the richmond metropolitan transportation authority, and the Virginia Department of transportation. Will change the new signage you will see on the highways that greets visitors and workers to our city every day will make the right First Impression on the city of richmond. [applause] like toinally, id thank our very own city of richmond employees. [applause] uhoh. Little windy up here. Our chief administrative officer. I also want to thank our recreation director. The men andto thank women of the department of public works led by bobby vincent. In just a moment, they will begin the process of replacing city sign in our with a sign that reads our arthur ashe boulevard, all by the end of the weekend. [applause] i have one question left. Are you excited . Are you ready for the unveiling . Yes toif i could ask our choir move into position now for the big moment. I also would like to invite councilwoman kim graves, if you could clear a path down the middle for councilwoman gray. Also, i would like to invite david harris to join me for the unveiling. [applause] to represent the great cooperation between the city, sign has vdot, one been provided from each. The work in the city will begin immediately after the ceremony and others will follow shortly. Once we are in position, i will invite you all to join me in the countdown. Are you ready . Are you ready . Yes all right. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 applause]d [applause] thankies and gentlemen, you so much for joining us today for this important moment of remembrance, reflection and celebration. Remarkableforget the people that forge our path. As our Platform Party departs, please stay seated for a few more moments. We hope you enjoy your day on arthur ashe boulevard. The Virginia Museum of history and culture is free all day. I would like to recognize our wonderful neighbors and collaborators, the Virginia Museum of fine arts. They invite you to visit the exhibit cosmology of the tree of life which features 30 forex ordinary works of art 34 extraordinary works of art. The museum is also free and they have refreshments. At 2 p. M. , the United StatesCongressional Black Caucus for a Town Hall Session on the state of black america at the museum. Also today, i hope you join us at arthur ashe Atlantic Center for a Community Gathering of games, food and fun. This has been a remarkable day for richmond, the museum vesey above history and culture, and the commonwealth of virginia. Thank you for joining me and have a wonderful day. [applause] ok, the contingency sample is down. Its a little difficult to dig through. Very interesting. Thery soft surface, but contingency sample collector, i surface,a very hard but it appears to be very cohesive material of the same sort. Ill try to get a rock. Now you are watching American History tv. Every weekend beginning saturday, at eight again eastern we bring you 48 hours of unique programming exploring our nations past. American history tv is only on cspan3. I believe they are setting up now. This is houston radio, over. Houston, loud and clear. Roger, buzz. Reagan is an intellectual. Hes an intellectual. He is comfortable with ideas. He understands the power of ideas. With that kind of foundation, intellectual foundation, a political leader can do all kinds of marvelous things. Author and historian lee edwards will be our guest sunday from noon to 2 p. M. Eastern. Mr. Edwards is the author of a collection of biographies on William F Buckley and ronald reagan. Join our live conversation with your phone calls, tweets and facebook questions. Watch in depth live sunday from noon to 2 p. M. Eastern and watch our live coverage of the 2019 National Book festival of august 31 on book tv on cspan2. Small network with an unusual name with the big idea. Let viewers make up their own minds. Cspan open the door to washington policy for all to see, bringing you unfiltered content from congress and beyond. A lot has changed in 40 years, but today that big ideas more relevant than ever. Cspan is your unfiltered view of government so you can make up your own mind. Brought to you as a Public Service by your cable or satellite provider. I live in a country where there is no public transportation, there is no distances i can walk. A woman to leave the house, to do anything in her life, she needs a car. To function, to drive this car, she needs a man. Sunday night, Saudi Arabian womens rights activist talks about her book, daringt to drive, about her decision to challenge the saudi governments ban on women driving. It is an act of civil disobedience because women are not supposed to drive. We appeared we show that we are able and capable of driving our own life and being in the drivers seat for our own destiny. Q a. Tch on cspans next on lectures in history, andrew slap of East Tennessee State University teaches a class on abraham lincoln, Andrew Johnson and the constitution. He compares how both president s have been portrayed as upholding or disregarding the constitution, and whether their reputations match their actions in office. Prof. Slap good morning. Thank you all for coming. Today we are transitioning in the course from civil war to reconstruction. Because of that, it is a good point in this course to talk