Transcripts For CSPAN Key Capitol Hill Hearings 20140926

In the election. A few weeks ago we had the privilege of bestowing the. Ongressional gold medal it was so remarkable because it becauseverdue, but also of the very same time we were appealing to our colleagues to pass a bipartisan Voting Rights act to correct the shelby decision. That has still not happened but we must make it happen. In order to make it happen, we all must vote. As i said, it is a privilege to be here. To accept the invitation of the Congressional Black Caucus foundation. Another privilege i had more than year ago was standing on the steps with the congressional members of cbc on the steps of the Supreme Court. They were there calling upon the court to make the right decision. That very day we were meeting in the house of representatives to dedicate the statue of rosa parks. Are strange, dedicating a statute to rosa parks, people turn out in a bipartisan way to salute her, and yet we have to appeal to the court to do the right thing. When they dont, they sing the praises of dr. Martin luther king but dont pass the Voting Rights act. We have important work to do. We have important people doing it. The distinguished chair of the foundation has been working for , for cities, for the american people. He is a great leader. A very strong leader and fighter for opportunity for all in our country. Taking the lead on fighting for food stamps and the rest in a very tough battle, but who better than she to lead. Ranking assistant leaders , a champion on the vote writing act. They are working so hard to get that pass. Chairman and working very hard to make sure asset the record straight some in congress would be consomme on the attack of president barack obama. Art ranking our ranking security the homeland committee, keep americans safe. Our distinct chair looking out for consumers and our Financial System so that it is fair to everyone. All this talk we have heard about science, technology, math, she is the chair of the science and technology committee. The Congressional Black Caucus has provided such tremendous leadership to our country. The have a new member top following up when his important work for young people. This caucus is making a valuable contribution to our country, even some who are not chairs of cleaver andemmanuel congresswoman clay, they were there in ferguson and they made us also proud as a represented us in a way that was appropriate and respectful of the very serious nature of what happened there. , the along with john lewis conscious of the congress , he was part of that. So much needs to be done. The word conjures up so much that needs to be done. Voting rights act, freeing people so they have the right to vote with respect to who they are. I thank jeff johnson for his leadership. So many people who are making today possible. As i said, it is an honor for me to be here to salute the members of the Congressional Black Caucus led by marcia fudge. How about those fellows that we met . How about that some of those publishers were named for donald payne that beautiful lovely and chairman stokes. The tradition goes on. Education, which is key to the fulfillment of the junk people, which is also necessary to keep america number one. I leave you with one thought, one way we hope to turn out a big vote in all communities and the vote in the Congressional Black Caucus Leadership Community is so important is goodjeff said, keeping jobs, jumpstarting the middle class, investing in education to keep america number one. That means we have to invest well asin colleges as reduce the cost of loans. [applause] a very important part of it to the community is when women succeed, america succeeds. That is how we are going to turn out a big vote. Thank you for the honor of having a chance to say a few words. Good luck in your deliberation. We all all caps in on you. We are all counting on you. The success of this caucus is the success of our country. Thank you very much. [applause] thank you congresswoman. She said it right. The panel we are getting ready to go into is going to cover ambitiously three key areas. The the state of africanamerican vote moving into 2014, the necessity to look at both voting and Law Enforcement reform as it relates to policy, where we are going and how the black vote of effects of us socioeconomically. That is a lot to cover in a short amount of time, but we have a Brilliant Panel that is going to do that. I am going to be introducing folks that are in the audience every now and again good you know how we are. We got to do shout outs. Congresswoman beatty said that i am no stranger to the Congressional Black Caucus. If i could take a point of personal privilege, it is not just for me about supporting the jobs to her of the Congressional Black Caucus, or getting on the road to be able to support different members in certain parts of the country. It is that before me, when i was a senior senior in high by the there was a woman name of Stephanie Tubbs jones, she came into my High School Government class and blew me away. I said to myself that i need to work for her. I asked my teacher if i could walk her to her car as she was leaving the classroom. , said to her at that time prosecutor doug jones, you are going to hire me. Anybody that knows her knows what you talking about, i dont know you. She said, are you a lawyer . I said, no. X he said, i only hire lawyers. You have a file room were those files appear cheese at yes. You need somebody to get files or lawyers in a file room. She said youre funny. Monday. Me on she hired me in the file room of the county Prosecutors Office in cleveland, ohio. That set up a trajectory for me to be where i am. We talk about honoring those that come before, and Stephanie Tubbs jones was one of the most powerful black women that we have seen in the halls of congress. On days like today, i remember her so much and want the letter of. It is my honor and privilege to introduce those are will lead us in our discussion today. Please hold your applause till the end. Wade henderson is president and and the Leadership Conference education fund. A tireless civil rights leader, he is a member of the bar in colombia and the United States of in court. Was the firsts female president , a legal powerhouse who was elected to the American Bar Association board of governors in 1989. The first africanamerican to do so. President clinton presented her with a Eleanor Roosevelt human rights award. John lewis was elected to congress in 1986 and represents georgia. A acivil rights leader was member of the march on washington. He also received the president ial medal of freedom. Barbara r. Arnwine president and executive director otherwise committee for civil rights. A graduate of Duke University law school. She continues to campaign for civil rights and sable justice issues. Civil justice issues. She specializes in housing and lending, community developing, and pointed, Voting Rights, education, and environment of justice. Is a formerra Deputy Attorney general of the california apartment of justice who was first elected to the house of representatives in 1992. He is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus where he served as chaired in the hundreds and that congress. He is also a member of the executive committee of the congressional Asian Pacific american caucus. Ast but certainly not least, leader who i met while i was working in that file room in cleveland, ohio. [laughter] she was chief of staff at that time to energy is a nonbelievable Public Service from my home state, representing the 11th Congressional District in such an unbelievable way, she chairs the Congressional Black Caucus and is continuing on every single level to be an Unbelievable Freedom fighter, even as she is a powerful it is later. Ladies and gentlemen, representative marcia fudge. [applause] now, i have to ask an unbelievable favor. Threeare a dressing these major themes of the state of the black vote, the necessity to look at reform of voting and Law Enforcement policy, and how the ing is affecting american africanamerican socioeconomically. 92 to be mindful that this panel ins today i need to remind you that this panel in today. Need to remind you to be sure any responses. We will have a great panel. I would like to start with representative lewis if i can. , is theren lewis clearly an impact that recent legislation in particular, and Civil Supreme Court cases have had on Voting Rights and Voting Rights for africanamericans. What have the last two years done for the africanamerican electorate. More importantly, if there was one thing we all need to be doing moving into november, what is that one thing . Else isthan anything the decision of the united ,tates Supreme Court and local state officials across america. Not just in the southern states. They have made a deliberate effort to take us back to another. Period. We must stand up and fight and push. We must go to the polls and vote like we never voted before. Our vote is precious. It is sacred. It controls everything that we do. Everything. Bea minority, whether it black, latino, asianamerican, native american, or whether we are right, we must understand that 50 years ago, this year, three young men that i knew gave their lives trying to make it possible for all our citizens to become dissidents in a democratic process. We want to respond to ferguson, you have to vote. It is powerful. We must do it. If not, we will go back. Even as many in this room have been consistent engaged to make sure that we are registered in the votes are educated, and making sure there is robust efforts. As we are looking at what happened with the Supreme Court decision, do we continue to laws orr federal voter do we more focus on state laws that we are losing in many cases all over the country. . Is it at both and proposition question mark proposition . Is it due to lack a lack of , even when we has some federal protection . Let me say two things. First off, let me say thank you. He is a little modest. When he came to work in the Prosecutors Office, he was a worldclass track athlete. He was not only bright, he was doing all the right things, the things we want our young people to do. I thank you. To its not an either or. Would sayre kids, we i can walk into bubblegum at the same times. We can. If we dont, we make a huge mistake. The reason we are in the shape we are in, is because of redistricting. We lost the state houses. If we had not lost the state houses, we would be in a better position today. That is the thing people need to understand. We know that we need to vote. And we know why we need to vote. Let me say a few things, if i may. Believe it or not, they are going to file articles of a pitchman against our president articles of impeachment against our president great if we dont bow, your street when i get the experience if you dont bow, we will have hungry german across his country. We have to understand that this election is about us. It is not about the people who are running. It is about the policies that we need to be supporting. If you dont vote, i would say you are selfish and saar. People need to go out and vote. Selfish and sorry. [applause] isto congresswoman fudge point, we can walk into gum at the same time. Even those of us who are inside the political bubble are looking around i hear conversation every day about the need to secure the seats in the house and potentially moves and seats forward. I hear about securing the senate and ensuring that immigrants stay on the front in their, for those earthling party politics. I dont hear the same level of fervor and enthusiasm about down that willdidates drastically affect the quality of life in states all over the country. As we talk about walking and chewing gum at the same time, how can we ensure that we are doing the kind of work that leads people to the polls, that pushed for the kind of represented as we want in the house and senate, but not at the folksf poorly educating on those down ballot seats, many of whom still have an opportunity to win certain states . Let me say thank you for being here and allowing me to be with these great leaders here. To the point, i think that marcia fudge hit it on the money there. What we find that is after 2000 and eight 2008, when the their set historic numbers, republicans went on the offense and said, we have to stop this. They have been playing offense for the last four years. They have been going after that persuade,by trying to by not making a possible to vote. We have to stop playing defense. We are fighting the Supreme Court decision. We are fighting to change laws of state and federal levels. We should do is take the offense. I dont think youre going to take the offense only if you concentrate on the federal or local level. You have to do both. Jeff, i think the response here is we have to teach our young folks that voting is a right. It is not just a right, it is a right of passage. If you dont vote, you will to learn how to drive . It is a right of passage. You have to show me that you deserve to drive that car. You want to be a man . You want to be a leader question mark you would be a woman leading this country question mark you have to show me that you know the importance of voting. Is a right of passage for our young folks to vote. We have to teach them. It makes any difference if the City Council Seat or if its a congressional seat orchids for the president the United States. Our young folks have to understand the value of voting for that little town hall, City Council Person or the president United States. When we knew that do that, when these antivoters want to push us, we will be on the offense and we will win. Thank you. Barbara, i am concerned. But as someonee, who has worked at the naacp, even worked at the popculture side to engage young voters, i hear the language of voting being important, and i hear specifically during targeted periods, but if we are talking about offense. In many cases the enemy that we are fighting never takes a day off. When do we move beyond this notion that fighting for the vote starts and innings somewhere around the time campaigning starts. Whether it is our churches, civic organizations, our leadership, begin to have messages and movement that dont turn on and off. So thatengage funders funders are only funding during utterly periods create a movement that is larger, more comprehensive, and more 360 than we have seen in several decades . Thank you for that question. I figured you would like that. Listen everyone, boating has to be 365oting has days a year. About showing be up for an election, although that is key, the guys that is a you manifest it. If you dont give a gift on christmas, you know what happens. Know that for every one of us who knows that november 4 is the election day that for other people have no idea, not a clue. Not a clue. Create the to to get therophone word out to every Single Person we know. My mother is 83 years old. She will be on the phone calling andybody in our family asking them if they are registered, because registration is going to start cutting off for some states as early as october 7. It is very important that we get that word out. Be on the phone calling all of my family saying, you better get ready. You have to get to those polls. We have to do that. That just by talking. I want to make sure that everybody here knows that we come here today to bring you tools to help you do that. Committee, the Leadership Conference, the naacp, all of us work together. The National Coalition for black civic dissipation plate we put out toolkits that every Community Group can use good we have a new when it just comes out. Another one for you voters. That thoseake sure toolkits talk about not only registering the vote, what is going on the local communities, that they also talk about making sure that people stay engaged, because the problem is the reason people dont want to go to the polls is because they get disgusted putting people in office who dont do what they were promised to do. They get angry that they are not making sure their children are having the best education. They get upset when the mayor is not holding the police force accountable. Let me interject. Thats why we have to make sure we hold people accountable and that we engage in this process all the time. Greathink you make a point. Thank you ray much. Thank you very much. We throughout the word account of early all the time. Why arent we holding mayors accountable . Why arent we Holding State legislatures accountable . In cities that have 2000 churches, very few of those members attend city council meetings. Activees where we have organizations, a lot of times they dont show up at the state legislature. , how do we begin to better engage folks to do what barber is talking about on a consistent basis . It is a great question. I am honored to be here. I am honored to be a part of this conversation. Very important. Voting is the length of democracy. If you dont vote, you dont count. Number two, voting should be a nonpartisan issue. Partisanship, particularly a corrosive, toxic subvertedip, it has the right to vote and democracy as we know it. I want to give just a brief History Lesson of why this issue is important, ok . I would say about how. When president obama was elected in 2008, he shattered every record about voter turnout of participation. Hugerth carolina you had a turnout of africanamericans. In virginia, indiana, it was mind blowing. The night he won the 2000 and , Robert Draper documented an event that took wherein our washington many came together to talk about how to regain power and subvert president obamas legislative agenda. That was on the night of his inaugural ball. Skiertember, 2009, an of congressman from South Carolina by the name of joe wilson, who was attending a joint session of the house and senate, yelled out during a president ial address, you lie. It was an attack on the presidency and an attack on president obama. He was rewarded with a nine point victory and a war chest of untold proportions generated by what he did. 2010, Tea Party Activists came to town and spit on congressman emanuel cleaver. They threw racial epithets at john lewis and other members and argued that this was really a free exercise of the right to express their views. I mention all of this for the following reasons. This is a concerted effort to subvert the president s agenda. It began on the night of his first election. The failure on the part of black voters to respond in 2010, as we responded in 2000 and eight, cost us everything. Houses,both state control of our ability to set the site agenda, and were still paying the price. What do we do . I would love it if we put up a slide that shows some the black voter turnout between 2010 and 2012. My concern is about the house. Really quickly. We talk about the electorate and what the electorate didnt do, but a lot of times i did not see resources, infrastructure, organization and large part pushing to ensure that that turnout was going to be at the same level. Advocacy in the black community, organizing the electric are scarce. Organizing the electorate, or scarce. Be real. We know that your vote is always sought election time. There is no infrastructure on the part of the National Party to support organizing in the black community. I am not here in a policy mode. Bestow one party or another. Im saying our interest should determine how we cast our vote. In the event we dont vote, we are ultimately harmed. Heres the connection. When you look at the states that have failed to provide medicaid assistance under the generous provisions of the obamacare beall. Bill. It is an inducement to have are affectedle who by medicaid are poor people, black people, white people, latinos. The states that are denying them that right are largely in the south. Truth is we cant get healthcare and we desperately vote willd our determine whether that is carried out. Let me do this. Yeah. And would like you come in for you to deal with the how. Curious about how because i think everything that poignant. Ht up was but im interested in for those of us that are in cincinnati are in indianapolis, or oakland,urgh wherever they may be, how do we 365day engagement in a voter process that creates civic engagement, not just an activity of voting . To that . Say something yes, maam. Yes. Need to be half as good as forefathers and foremothers. We just need to be half as good. Goodness. They didnt have a degree. They didnt have college graduation. Didnt have high school. But im telling you, when black right to votethe get870, black women didnt it until 50 years later, 1920, those brothers five five yearsf slavery, out of slavery with the new hats and the little turn over shoes and their little collars wrapped themselves the polls for 25 years. They didnt miss a vote men toy elected 24 black the congress. By themselves. Because they didnt need to educated. They didnt need that. They understood that. They elected 24 black people to congress. Powers this be have always understood the promise and the the black vote if it exercised. In our hands we have the seed of our own liberation. Amen. It. Nd we do not use now, have to talk about what gets us out there . Do . We can what the organization, we got our day for barack obama in 2008. Big time. What did that . Because what we do, we vote for people. Vote for issues. And in barack obama we had the issue and the per person combino we could come out. Right. s you remove the African American president , state level, allral level, it is connected. We get myopia, we cant see anything. Dont educate ourselves as to what is going on in our communities. Missouri is an abomination. Black vote . And 6 votertion turnout . Wonder you got any on the police force. So we have been fighting for the vote and to hold on to the vote ever since we first got it in 1870. It is nothing new. It has always been under attack. Decide the Supreme Court they were going to review the Voting Rights act case . Days after obama was elected in 2012. Okay. Three days so i mean we we the foundations dont fund it. All right, they dont fund it. Organize. Dont all right, we not organized. Thats right. Is our individual duty to selfeducate . Yes, yes. Selfeducate. Yes. [applause] yep. Organizeour duty to and educate others and it is local. Yes. It begins at home. Everybody. The Community Meetings. The school board. Yes. People should be known active. Ost politically active. Active folk in this nation. In the country in when they and we are over 18 they ought to automatically know voters. Are thank you so much. Elaine, what i need you to do time, i need to hear more passion. You are not passionate enough. A little more energy. Oh oh oh loved it. Sister. Ight, my congresswoman fudge, and i know you have to transition but have a sticky question. And i know normally you can deal questions and wade brought up something that i think is important. I did. Times that is that often even democrats treat the African American Community Like baseball who only watch the world series. They just show up in october. Right. s right, thats and so how do we begin . Because i think elaine really dealt with the fact that there is selfinternallish somehows that we need to deal with. Yes. Mobilize. Re going to there also is support issues from those who we support. Engage thedo we Democratic Party in a more effective way of supporting we can see have a chance of winning but dont get broader support . And, this unbelievable infrastructure, some of which ofple in this room represent people that work in the political space and are always brought into meetings to give advice, but never hired. Yes. Consultants. Well electoralthis infrastructure. All right. Jeff, the answer is really easy. Selfpreservation is human nature. Umhm. Finallyo when they have realized that 45 a percent of the vote of the Democratic Party minority then they Pay Attention. Umhm. When they realize that they want to hold the in the and realize that in louisiana they need our vote and it is 30 of the vote in louisiana, 30 of the people in louisiana are black people. Same. A, almost the in georgia, almost the same. Almost therolina, same. I was in arkansas on monday i sunday, arkansas, only 15 but in a close race 15 is a lot of votes. Difference. Now that they realize that they need us like they always needed us, come on, black and supportut here the Democratic Party, once they make a difference we went to them and said you want thise are players this game. Right now the dscc is getting ready to spent 67 million in seven states. Guess who is going to get some now . At money we going to get some of that money now. I hope so. Supported our sunday effort. Churchesmost 3,00 3,000 last sunday to talk about getting out the vote. I think it is just important dot you have to make people what is right sometimes. We expect them to do what is expected that we of the masses, too. We expected them to of the too. Rs, we expected them to take care of us because we were worth something and had some value. Sometimes you to make them do it. And now we are making them do it. Because if they dont, then they lose. I tell you when, my life aint going to change a whole not will changeut what is my neighbors when their kids canteat or when they keep a roof over their head. We are saying to the democratic of thell three houses Democratic Party you better Pay Attention to us because if you dont, everybody loses. If we win, everybody wins. Loses when everybody black folk dont vote. Thank you. At this time we are going to shift gears a little bit and i want to talk about what is on lot of peoples minds, many of you have seen in the last 24 hours that people were in the in ferguson. Yes. That there is conversation protestersbout blocking the st. Louis cardinals game as they go into the playoffs. There is also right now a video that was released of John Crawford shooting. Yes. In ohio. Yes. In a walmart where it was he was the Police Stated he was a gunwielding was a gun, but it that was sold in walmart that buy. S getting ready to i think as many of us said because we had heard about the video that there was no warning, police didnt identify themselves. He was shot from behind the first time. Was killed in many cases what they believe was a second shot. Ferguson is an example of what is happening in cities all country that either no it catches on video or doesnt bubble to the surface. I would like to, barbara, if you to dealime in first with and actually if i can second, congressman lewis, if you could chime in. Issues as to the militarization of local police, relates tos as it what the rules for accepted force are. More importantly and what concerned with, how do we create policy that hold Police Accountable in substantive ways versus superficial ways so we dont thatnue to see people shoot someone and tomorrow they are back on the street or on paid leave . Thats right, umhm, umhm. I think it is important. I think it is a must that we acrossorganized all america with the ability and the capacity to speak up and not wait until there is an incident. Didnt have960s we a website. We didnt know anything about the internet. Facebook . We didnt have a fax machine. Thats right. Old mimeo good graph mashown. Machine. Many of the communities are just too darn white. Some noise. Ake organize and organize. We have to use the vote, yes. To organize dissident campaigns. Was a sitin, a freedom right, a march, we steadied and prepared ourselves. That was my next question to you. When i i get concerned hear elders sometimes talk about engagement of young people but there isnt a real analysis of the fact that your generation got trained and you couldnt be on the werentes if you trained or you couldnt be at a werentunter you trained. Before the freedom ride. Trained before we boarded a bus to travel from washington, d. C. To new orleans. And you all werent using some sophisticated multimillion dollar funded institution. No. Knowing howested in peopleorking with young or College Students moving them to address the issues of the the issues ofs brow brutality what are the to do the training . Recruit a cadre of young people. Yes. D, smart, yes. Prepareaverage joes and them to be prepared stand up and speak up and organize the and be prepared to mobilize. I want to go back to just one point. The vote. If you want to change ferguson to user places, we got the vote. It is the most powerful theiolent tool we have on democratic se society and if we to use it we will go backwards. Becerra. Ssman elaine talked about something that was critical. Cases poem o cases people of cr first and issues second. I dont often see candidate looking for young talent outside of the party system. Im not sure about the work that doing, it but how do we just to, and i dont mean brilliant College Students, im to beg about young ones philosophyed and on the block and connected to a politic aboutrm because they care something. And then we have the ability to talk them and pull them in. Createe ways that we candidate incubators and electoral incubators so we are seeing a different feeder of folks woulding no the school board and state leg or mayors races. You look at people and they say i tried to find a good of minority background but they are not out this or they dont come to me. The chairman of the Democratic Caucus. Staff on theof my Democratic Caucus are people are color and women and i had no of them anding any they are as talented as anybody out there. Thats right. And so you just got to push envelope. You cant let people get away with the excuse. Agree but not i completely with the nose that we based on with the notion that we vote based on the person. We vote based on our ability to survive. When ferguson occurred, i think people said that is me. Rights movement got strong, people said that is me. And that is when people came out. Had what happened was you success, we saw that we got the passed. Ghts act we saw that we got the Voting Rights act passed and we said we looking for. Ere and we got complacent. And we sat and we didnt teach next generation the john be readyf the world to for the next time. It is coming up all of the time just onesomeis many. Oneexample. To teach an dog new tricks. To an old dog new tricks. It is tough to change bad habits. Got to teach our young folks never to have those bad habit. Some of our own money and skin in the game on not just on whether the parties will do it for us pulpit our own money we will never fully get there. Will only do it every year there is an election. We need it to be done every year childs life so when they turn 18 it is just like a drivers license, when you turn 18 you go out and vote a rite of passage. What xavierild on just said, when i listen to and elainend wade and we hear the passion and talk about our history, what happens comfortable. Let me spoke to the younger folks in the audience because mr. Lewis said was they were trained. They were trained because they conviction and it affected them. Resolve isge to our whether you are on the more mature end of this audience, corneru get that corporate office, you remember that there is somebody that fileroom. E in the and when you get there with all you have toentials, remember that there is someone your contemporary. What im saying is you get the one person in the corporate highest levelhe and they dont bring people along. Emulate when our young folks come along they leaders int our those environments are doing because we like all of the attention on us. Mr. Lewis and everybody was marching, it was never about him. About the cause. Years2 black women, 101 ago, had the courage to convince the United States to let them be the only women of womens march in the suffrage march. It wasnt about them. It was about the cause. Agree on the people, but it is always about the cause. This forum, you are in here for free. You will attend things late in the evening for free. So everything you have for free, check back to a the cause. All right. Naacp,her it is to the whether it is to the kaw can are no freeatyou prefer but the rides. Mr. Louis and all of his they didnt ask anybody for a dime to feed them. They didnt ask anybody to get ticket to get on the bus. The rosa parks created modern Civil Rights Movement for one year black folks didnt get bus. Could you imagine today if joyce stand with to you this group and walk for a week what would happen . School. To go old and lastly that is why we are doing this panel because we stand on the shoulders of someone. You stand on the shoulders of of someone. Thats right. It is time for us to give a for our young folks can stand on. Thank you. Thank you. Barbara, if i can because if you that there is ask somebody walk with you for a much of i remember so what made the bus boycott so was just was it started with one tay. Day. What we are seeing in ferguson is we areleased about seeing young and old people alike on the ground that arent waiting for anybody to come back. Thats right. Arent waiting for a National Leader to come in. Someonent waiting for to tell them how to do it and there is continuity that we are starting to see. Issues, if you will, on the policy side as it brutality thatce helped turn the needle . Is it civilian review boards . Blocking federal funding . What are the things that people should be looking for from a policy piece so when they are going to the polls they know what to look for by way of ways level . This at the local thank you so much. First of all, i want everyone to that there is a unified put outt that has been rightseast 15 civil organizations on ferguson reforms, on Police Reforms nationwide. It i wanted to be i want to be very clear that this is not a letter talking about we we are so annoyed and disgusted and angry. This is a letter that says governments, state governments, low college governments,do these 14 thingst burying our children. Do you know in august alone killed over ad hundred people . This is not a moment as reverend says, that it is about a movement, that is the work of generation. This is the work that we have to get done. Cannt you to know that you become a signatory to this statement. Thecan get copies of statement. Some of them are outside of this also at booth number 230 in the exhibit hall. Sign up. T you to i want you go to lawyerscommittee. Org and become a signatory. Sayalso, what i wanted to is that to all of the questions asking, jeff, the beauty of the moment that we sit miss where we are right now in this moment and where we are going in the future. A shout out to all of my Young Brothers and created hand handsupdontshoot. Org. I want to give a out out to all brothers and sisters, black lives matter. Give a shout out because those brothers and sisters have done it with no dimes. And figured out how to get from new york to ferguson. And figured out how to get from florida to whatever. They have done it. I want us to be clear that we have a youth generation that is and all of the x others using their talents. Andknow, Darnell Moore phillip caruthers and agnew and the brothers and is sisters that are standing up isause they understand this not just an issue about black issue about black boys, it is an issue about black women and black girls. God, two days after the policeg of mike brown, phoenix,killed in couseau who was 50 years old, mentally disabled, her hand andin they decided to shoot her 20 times. The community was so disgusted marched with her casket and took it to the city hall and put it in the middle of the rotunda in the lobby. Lets be very clear that country blackthis people are rising up. That we are standing up and killings of our people but we need, we need ande systematic institutional reforms. Toneed to dig deep and fight make sure that the change happens. Here on the sitting panel next year talking about the latest people they shot and killed. No. Brothers and sisters we can raisial racialtting the guidance passed. By getting the funding taken away from the departments that have histories and clearly are brutality. Police we can change this by making all of the places wear the cameras gets out. E story by having dash cams on police cars. People to keep statistics on who is being shot killed. By making simple changes who is in fact employed. By having community civilian review boards that are role. Powerful and can subpoena and punish and have the ability to have community of brokennstead windows that makes it racial profiling legal. Things that we got to do. Listen, i stand here because you family was invaded by a s. W. A. T. Team. At 5 00 aty home night. You think ferguson had some military gear . Came in with night goggles. I kept saying turn on the going to kille some of my people. Turn on the lights but they with their night going toes, their shield, all night goggles and the shields they held us under armed three hours while they executed a search warrant that produce. Dnt these are the realities. We need to be clear about the that we are in. I dont want us to ever forget, kin that wes black black lives matter, hands up, dont shoot. Organizations. E we can create the organizations that you are talking about. A 365ioneed to have you know, day review on what is ourg on politically and at local, state and federal level. That we can hold people accountable. Technology. We got the means. We just have to do the work. In this audience, elaine, that seed you talked here. They are right and they are going to take what they learn today and change it america. W thank you. Thank you. What i want to do is i want question but i hate when we have three minutes left and then we open the floor only two people get to ask questions. Uhoh. So there is a mike in the middle here that will be available for those that want to ask questions. We will get so as many as we can which is why i want to open it as quickly as possible. If you would begin to line up there in the center aisle following this question. And is for both wade elaine. We wanted to talk about this what is the Socioeconomic Impact on African Americans . Yes. And so wade, i would like for you to just talk about some of small ways that we are impacted because there are so many . Also talkuld you about something that representative becerra talked how do weh is financially impact the voting process . And what we can do to play a more sophisticated game on fund raising, on donating to the kind of candidates that we want and fundraising role within parties if we so choose that space . Role in guys and then elaine. Voting obviously matters. Example. Good eric holder who is now the attorney general in the United States would not be in office obama. Not for barack without eric holder in office it is unlikely we would have gotten called the fair sentencing act that reduced disparities and took off three years of sentences for many. If it were not for eric holder wouldnt have an attorney general arguing that people who were convicted of felonies be entitled to vote. If it were not for eric holder we would not have a effort to reduce sentencing disparities based on that haveminimums been generated. Guys. Ctions matter, when eric holder is challenged by the house of representatives censorshipinto a fight, that is something we about. Be concerned and when people talk about the potential to impeach president carried oute he has policies that are in the best country,of the understand that is an attack on his record and the programs that pursuing. So when we dont have a jobs responds to the high level of unemployment in the African American community, because obstruction of the jobs program was seen as being in the interest of his political opponents, that is a consequence we have to deal with. Challenged about providing resources, i mentioned there arearlier, school costs for public bycation that are affected elections. So there are a number of both and micro issues affected by the outcome of elections. Im looking to use what we have. Given us ferguson has a moment that will help generate a movement and yes, im delightd groups like color of change and others are in the effort. For am now looking hashtag that says hands up, go vote. Yes, that also. Hands up, go vote. We can do that. A connection between what you do and the consequences that we are feeling on the ground. So when the president supports providing body cameras for a way officers as helping to protect all of us by happened,film of what that is a positive. Or when holder, who has for writingty guidance from the department justice, that determines how used in Law Enforcement purposes, that is something that only he is capable of organizing and doing. And so im saying yes, we do ourselves. Cate to look, i want to go back Something Congresswoman beatty said. There is a judge in this damon keefe, a 92yearold retired judge out of michigan. An incredible guy. Me once, look, wade, you floors you never scrubbed. You walk through doors you never opened. You have an obligation to do who come behind you. Raisingwhy at 92 he is hell and encouraging people to do what is necessary. Walk acrossdid buck floors you never scrubbed and yes, you do walk through doors never opened, and the key is using the power that we already our hands to determine the outcome of change we want to see. Thank you so much, elaine. Was your question . My question was how do we play please, a round of right. E is al all [applause] ohhow do we play a more sophisticated Financial Game in local politics . Politics is local. It is not national. Organization at our Community Level we with go national. Do. Is easy enough to and we are already organized to do that. Havee used to have and we to get back to it, in our communities they used to be called voting crusades or voters or the voter league. This committee did was for Something Like your home, in terms would do is of the Police Department, who hires these people . Officials . Who are the officials that fire the police . Public safety,of you know. You look what role did the play . Or what role does the mayor play . Publicle who are the policy people that bring them on the force . When the local election comes we can have a direct connection between the person who is running and the composition of the Police Department and what their power is. In other words, it is an ongoing education process about what at home. At andget the voting leagues you keep informed locally and then you come together and you can even collect your money locally. Well, we like what so and so is saying and what so and so is about this so we are going to give in 500 to that campaign. To just i mean you can and it is where your power lies. So that is how you do it. And that also builds awareness. Awareness. We are not we are engaged spasmodically. Spasmodically, episodically. We are 365 years. Being engaged. Power of the vote. When somebody tells you they are registered and you doubt it, get with them. Or go with them. Lets go check your registration sure the address is right. It is all in the details so when aey show up they dont have problem when it is time to vote. That is your power and it starts locally. You need your organization locally. You need your research group. Folks who think about the money. You need your Community Meetings. Yes. You dont have to have them every week. Once a month, there ought to be Community Meeting about what is going on here at home. And you build. It iss how you organization and structure. Thank you so much. I want to make sure that we get as many questions as we can and so there are three rules, mese that have been with when i have moderated before know the rules. The first rule is ask a question. Please. The second rule, ask a question. The third rule is we have confirmation on this . Breaking announcement pelosi needswoman important. T is thank you. I do this has been i want to thank congresswoman joyce beatty, a of congress for her leadership in putting all of this together. Seniornford bishop, a member of congress, a champion for veterans for putting this together. Thank you again. And i also want to acknowledge that while we are here this week, the president has been at the u. N. And i was proud to president made the official appointment of housea lee to be the democrat representative at the assembly. Ions general i pined this s find this to be i associate myself with the comments that wade made about the excellence of our great holder. General eric yes, yes. I do want to, though, say that the congressional black instrumental in almost every one of the initiatives. Chairwoman fudge that the leader high possible. Tde i salute the Congressional Black Caucus. And donald payne, we talked earlier. R dad and john edwards who joined us earlier. Now that theis attorney general will resign today. Country. S served our what . Wow. Well. Y, very but the message is that the attorney general will be submitting his resignation to the president. Wow. Let us salute him once again great, greats work. That is so bad. That is terrible. Devastating. Wow. That is devastating. That is so sad. Wow. Thank you so much, leader pelosi. Wow. And that is a shock. Bad. At is did you know that was did i not. Havemost like we need to another panel about attorney general holder. I do want to make sure we honor nose line. Those in line. Rules were ask a question. The third rule is ask a question. Thatave 30 seconds to set question up at which time i will question. Ask the direct to one member of the panel, would be helpful. If not, we will direct one to answer it so we can get to as many questions as possible. Yes, sir . Allow her to hold the mike because it is talkstically proven you 30 longer when the mike is in your hands. Thank you. Thank you very much. Prior to the march on washington there was a coalition of civil social justice organizations, the naacp, the rainbow push. Inculpate in our young peoples minds that voting is not just a right it is a responsibility . It is a responsibility to ourselves, a responsibility to who we love, live in community with, it is a responsibility to the world. So much. You how do we organize i got your question. To coalition how do we organize the coalitions, some of which barbara, ift and so you wouldnt mind talking about alreadyitions that exist . The crux was how do we get young indoctrinated in that . The coalition around ferguson iat we put together county sick bed. Thatfrom my i was at home with a back infection when it was just, you own way. Moving in his i was due be out of the country with wade and some others to about, youe the u. N. Know, our Voting Rights and other rights, criminal justice issues. And when i saw what happened to mike brown and i started seeing twitter blowing up and i started knew wecalls, i now couldnt just do nothing. I called tonya clayhouse who is audience, our brilliant Public Policy director who was able to help me convene civil rights organizations as we could get on the phone. Talked, you know, we had all of the experts and that is unifiedame up with the statement. We decided not to just do our organizational thing but that we needed a coalition. If you are talking about movement, you cant do it with organization. Movement requires everybody. Im here seeking and andciting your individual organizational signature on that statement because coalition building. I love about what darnell, charleen, phil and all of the involved in hands up dont shoot, the ferguson form reformpolice row also ares that they coalescing. This group will take the lead on having a march on this weekend, saturday. The next group do it the next one and that they come and support each other. Do. Is what we have to so coalition is absolutely in our bones but we got to make it happen. Egos are a problem. Organizational credit is a problem. There are so many problems you have to overcome when you deal with coalitions but i will tell you this they can be overcome. I fight with it every day, and i push people forward, and we get it done. We had a meeting with the white house. A meeting with the kep departmef Homeland Security. We have done all of this work through coalition. So, jeff, i want to tell you it, that the young people get it, and the final is thatust want to say there has never been a successful movement in america, never been a successful movement of African Americans that wasnt intergenerational. That it takes the elders, the the in between. Thank you so much. Thank you. Sir, really quickly, i want to your question, there are young people who just want to be listened to. Yes. Of times we are trying to get them to do something a methodology that they are not in. Rested you show me a city and i will show you young people that care so busyimes we are telling them how to do it. How to do it. Now we need to listen. We need to support them as directors. Ot as they already have coalitions of their own. Right. Sometimes it is about bridge. The many of you know that in the hours that jake sued kendricks lamar. In miss songsage and the folks are suing him. I felt like it was a real to say all for jakes right, brother, let me talk to you about this Copyright Infringement but lets have a conversation because kendricks line was an honor. A positive song. A positive message. Something in jakes voice that they admired and used it. And so there was an opportunity even thoughridge jake may not have liked the language or the approach. Two often we got old people that to help build the bridge and elders this dont want to help build it. You so much. Yes, maam . Im brittany. Was at the university where we get a specialto hear. This could go to elaine or have beencause you touching on it. What are things we can do as young people to continue the prominent orm National Figures . Because we are still going to hearings. Being briefe brief on politicalcy issues. Issues. Policy because the cameras are no longer around or cnn is no longer on our tracks how do we continue to engage and garner prominentom the figures who showed up . The naacp who showed up when the us . Ras were around restate the question for me . How do we as young people support to garner that from you all so it is no longer just a young Peoples Movement that time and that is so cute versus that longterm movement need . Al that we thank you so much. One,t me just give you just one example. Most people didnt hear about thelma until 1965. But members of the student coordinating in 1962. Went to that historic building. Movement. A and so when dr. King, martin thelmaking jr. Came to in january of 1965 it brought more press attention. Students,people, the lock, we create look, we created a coalition. The march on washington was a coalition. Young johnolph, lewis 23 years old was there in at the table. So, when people tell you to be quiet, speak up. Speak out. Find a way to get in the way and make some noise. Thank you, congressman. I cant do that right now. I got to get to the next question. Yes, maam . Yes, thank you. Is anise jenkins. Im with stand up for democracy d. C. Coalition. The 650,000 peopleresent who live in the Nations Capital sayso over the life and death issues. We have no representation, no vote in the house, no vote in although we pay the highest federal taxes in the country. This a citizeng needs to do. So your question, maam . Blackant to thank the caucus because they are leading legislation. Ng our they are leading. I want to thank ray henderson. At theause he testified first hearing in the senate in 20 years. I appreciate your need you to but i ask a question for me, please. My question is how can the black caucus reach out to the other members of the house and get them on board with our legislation to become the 51st state . Thank you so much. Wade and then congresswoman. A great question, thanks for asking it. I would only say this, look, deserves the vote. We struggle to bring democracy tobaghdad, we bring it afghanistan and we deny it right at home on the potomac. It is up to d. C. Residents itself. Ourselves to raise our voices to make this a national issue. Has been caucus incredible. They signed up their own members. Aagai agenda. This going to get other members of congress to support the bill we have to as makeessman lewis said, some noise and get in the way and make this an issue that people are forced to address because it is democracy plain and simple. We can do that. We have the power here in d. C. It happen. We also strengthen the black caucus when we vote for all of those people that they have to deal with across the congress. Thank you. If they know they got a group of black folk out there who are listening. Are when he got something to say, they going to listen. Much. Nk you so i will leave that answer right there, congresswoman and come back to you on the next one. Sir . Good morning. King. Nold im from prince georges county, maryland. My question is what can we do to more African Americans to get involved in city issues more . Words, what can we do to get people in the neighborhood get involved in city issues . To went i appreciate the question and i will make sure to get them to answer. Do the grass roots piece and get people engaged at just citylevel in not politics but im sure across the board. Wants to take that . Let me speak. Elaine, go ahead. Stories. Are moved by by what our folk have done. Dahmer 1966. Ernon looked white. Didnt have to be black. Looked white. A saw mill. Mississippi, told people i will pay your poll tax, you come out vote. Klan came and the burned down his house. Later ofed three days smoke inhalation and on his tombstone right now, if you dont vote you dont count. He is one of many that gave their lives. We need to go through them, have young folk come in and see our martyrs. Modern day martyrs, im not talking about 1870s. The 1970s andut 1960s and up and to the present. In his brown is laying grave now because we didnt get to the polls and do what we have to do. People dont have medicaid because we didnt show up in to vote. Tell the story. Thank you so much. And thank you for your question. Sir. Yes, sir . America, from central honduras. I wanted to make a statement to very much for all stretch all of this. Im honored to be here amongst of these phenomenal legacy owners of the African American struggle. In Central America we actually and we imitate what African Americans have done actually every brief i will be african descendant around the world looks to you and your parents. You are our north. When it was said that we dont know the power that we have in through the vote, it is such a true statement. Commit that my sphere of influence will be get out and vote. Hear, hear. To get out and not only register but to actually get involved in every one of those local areas because another point you room,ot i gave brother. I gave you room. All right. Honduras. D im like i got to give him a minute with the comment but you cant have two. The point was a great one. It i appreciate that because does say how many people are watching us. And with all of the resources wet we have at our disposal have an unbelievable opportunity to be an example to those who often have less than we do to can happen. Thank you very much for that comment, sir. Yes, sir . You. Ank congressman lewis. Peoria, park fres parker from illinois. Im a well known activist back there. Years ago i ran for the school board and my election would have made a black majority on the board. Two days before the election, the states attorney had my name and id from the ballot found out that was done illegally. Voting out that my rights were violated and the people who chose to vote for me and signed all of the petitions to get on the ballot. I need you to ask your question, brother. Coming right now. Thank you. I found out that you were going to speak at the king Day Celebration in january. And i know 50 years ago i need your question, brother, please. 50 years ago. Honor the people that are behind you brother as im honoring you. 50 years ago you would have to fight against stuff like that. What do i go back and tell my that youo support me are condoning that the people are doinglated my rights to them . I dont understand the condoning. W am i you have chose ton speak at the king Day Celebration in january. Year. T im not so sure that i will be peoria or in other place in january. I get a lot of invitations from aroundf places all america. Im not sure that i will be speaking there. Thank you. But go out and run again. Dont give up. Dont give in. Bitter. Come dont become hostile. Go out there and continue to fight. Stand up. Thats right. You. Ank yes, sir . From the Poise Foundation which is an African American owned and operated Community Foundation from the pittsburgh area. My question is around the military and overseas Voter Empowerment act of 2009. Yes, yes. Which allows uniformed officers to now vote online and so when we talk about trying to get young people the voter process we got to peek their language language andtheir their language is online. Do you see us moving forward if the pilotre program is successful to moving system . An online voter thank you. It is a great question. It as great question. Military actnew that you referred to is an important contribution to democracy. To make sureave that we safeguard and protect vote. Tegrity of the right. And we have to make sure that the machinery that we use is not sub vert the very vote that we are trying to lift up. Right. So i got you. Places like oregon that are experimenting and it is a positive thing. But im going to say this, brother. Like im on twitter. Im wade for justice, okay. Bottom line. Telling you. The bottom line is we have to social media tools but we also have to engage where are. E there are people who are not plugged in and they need to cast a paper ballot. Thats right. There are some who are and could have alternatives. But our job is to organize that senseity in the broadest and link issues of importance to what they do. Talked about economics, jeff, and this is my last point. Scourge, aing is a scourge in the communities. There are potential regulations that are going to be issued soon determined by the Obama Administration and in part created by a group called the protectionnancial bureau. That the caucus struggled to make happen. Is why we are getting this progress. Im saying dont disconnect what on the ground with the importance of the vote that you cast. How i think we tuesday. We use that anger how we use it. We use the anger to motivate people to come out and make a difference in their own lives. Point oute, we should to people that one of the best voting reforms that has been happening in the country is voter registration. Right. If your state doesnt have it. You got to push for because it has been radical in getting people to sign up and to register to vote especially young people. So that is where we are seeing promise of online, you know, Online Technology in voting. Dont forget that when sandy happened, all of a sudden, new a way to doed out online voting. So we need to understand that but we got totial make sure that the technology is available to everyone. Thank you. And immediately following this panel for those of you from virginia and d. C. Registrationr right outside the door. All right. Right. s my name is Garrett Morgan and my question is how can we really not only take this time to change this movement, i mean take this opportunity to turn this movement into a moment. Yes. Do,ut what can we honestly why are we afraid to speak to the real issue which i feel is supremacy . Restate your question for me. We tip we tip that toe and dance around the real issue, the root of the issue which i feel is racism and White Supremacy which handcuffs us all. Let me do this because we all know that within a week of being eric holder said that we as a nation we were a nation of cowards as it relates race. Issue of yes, yes. And so any of you who would like to take that on . Love for congressman lewis to lead that off. Let me just say this, young brother. I dont think any of us, not one us want to deny that the scars of racism is still deeply embedded in every corner of the american society. We are not going to run from that. And we are going to deal with it. Deal with it alone. You got to use the vote. You got to organize. And mobilize. You just cannot talk about it. To do something about it. That is what another generation did. Let me just let me just to that. Congresswoman, as you answer that because i want to push back a little bit. That as we are dealing with younger and younger this notionthere is we kept having to fight the racialof the post america and that notion being pushed out. We are not dead yet. But you have a Younger Generation that is so happy where we are and doesnt have the Historical Context of where we have been and to his point have a son who until i started having to indoctrineate a little hard guest harder. We brought upme things about black people he got a little nervous. He as a young kid in a school dealing with that be able to see for what it is without it weighing him down. To do that soegin when we have rough conversations the racismn from conversation and at the same a time that we dont blame for it . Ng good question. Let me say that the town hall the 70 some workships are because of your question. The Congressional Black Caucus is sensitive to that because newrsity has created a problem for us with the younger folks who dont understand the of what a mr. Lewis or a lane or others went through. Young people,the congresswoman marcia fudge is Town Hall Forum tomorrow morning and bringing the dream defenders so young folks can be engaged in that. E we have 70something workshops. We have africanamerican members, plaque flokes in the Congressional Black Caucus who have planned this because they want you to understand the behind the scenes. Getting the contracts, making sure we have black folks that are engaged. The hotels we are in, because we understand that racism exists. We have insisted on things because we know racism prevails. I think if our its our other counterparts who wanted to put that postracial out there so we, too, would get comfortable. So to the young folks in the audience, dont think you dont have members of congress that belong to our tricaucuses who arent fighting for us, every day that congresswoman marcia fudge walks in that house of representatives, i assure you there is an issue or someone shes taking to task and its usually for the least of us. Theres a reason they call us the conscience of the congress. Its because were black and we know racism is still there. Thank you for your question. We are nearing the end. Ky in the get everyone in the line. But what id like to do is get the last three of you to one right after the of you to, one right after the other, concisely state your question, well get the panelists to answer that. The next three and if others have you questions, tweet them. If were able to get to them we will. But those last three if youd concisely state your question. Hi my name is lela, woirk with cbn national a nonprofit t im also a volunteer local Government Committee person and id like to know how we can engage individuals to be part of local government and other areas where where your leaders actually do come from. How can we engage people who are the most effective affected who may not have access to technologies . Thank you so much. Yes, sir. My name is anthony prescott, im a student from clayton, ohio. I want to know what we could do to possibly gain the respect, the proper respect, from our country. Thats all. Ok. Yes, sir. Thats good. My name ladell reese, im a washington, d. C. , native. You talked about the militarization of the police force. I want to know why in june did the Congressional Black Caucus te 80 against the grayson amendment that would have prevented the pentagon from transferring military arms and equipment to local and state police. We have these questions. We have the Congressional Black Caucus support of the bill to help militarize police. We have the question on the simple task of how do we get the country to respect black people. And then we have the first question on i think its a great question. Its a great question. But there are College Level courses and ministries that are engaged in that on an everyday basis. But the last one, how do we get people on the ground who are most affected, i think similar to the candidate incubator process. How do we get those most affected by what happens in Public Policy to be in the electoral process. Clearly a member of the black caucus can address the militarization of the police and that we supposedly 80 . Do you want me to do that first . I dont want hat, do anything else. Ive heard so much about this. It was a dumb amendment. Any time you say you cannot give any Police Department any equipment goes to the extreme. I represent the city of cleveland, one of the poorest cities in the country. You think im going to say my Police Department shopt get bulletproof vest or helmets or guns or radios . But the grayson amendment would not have allowed that to happen. Everything is not ferguson. So why would you vote for something that is so extreme that you hurt yourself . It just doesnt make any sense . So yes, we voted against it, and yes i am glad that we did because it was the right thing to do. Thank you so much. How do we get local folks, those folks that are most affected by local policy, to be engaged in the local process, and in a robust way, not just a superficial event kind of way . Weve got an institution that every day gives us an opportunity to do that, thats our public schools. Because every day our kids are going to be indoctrinated and what we can do is make sure they are coming out ready to run for that senior class president that treasurer. To be part of that School Council for those for that particular school to get the training. Weve got to teach our kids, every time theres an election coming, theyve got to be excited as if it were christmas. Say, mommy, daddy, are you taking me to the polls, its time to vote. Weve got to tell the church that always takes people to the nonals election day, you need a new bus, well raise money to buy you a new bus or another bus because thats what we want to find institutions that want taos do this. If we give the incentives to our young folks to be the leaders, as was said earlier, not wrust to follow but to actually lead with our guidance, then they become the leads of the future real quick. Im excited about this one. And all of you have the chance to address these in your Closing Remarks, but im excited, elaine, about you answering, how do we get america to respect black people. Its a great question. Its a great question because, you know, you dont really have like me. But as long as i know that i live in this constitutional democracy, and i have a vote, and i have a people, and we have common interests, and were working together and we will be counted in this process, youre going to respect me. Now you dont have to respect me as much because you can treat me the way you do in ferguson and different places and you can devalue the life of my black sons and brothers. You know and you do it, you know, regularly. Its not its almost routine. But what would get us the respect and engagement is our local folk who are disengaged and dont have all that education that we have out here and all those degrees but who are affected every day. You Start Talking about criminal justice, theyre all affected by that. You Start Talking about criminal justice at home. And what we can do as a community to change this system. You will go to an issue that speaks to them. And i bet you if we really work on it, and they will come out and tell us what the issues are, and how they think we can help, but we have to show some solidarity and some community with our own. And well get the respect. But we give it to each other. Congresswoman, what wed like to do before we go to Closing Remarks is recognize the other members of the Congressional Black Caucus who are here with us. Thank you very, very much. Donald payne jr. From new ersey. Robin kelly of illinois. Of course youve met our cochair, joyce beatty from columbus, ohio. Barbara lee from california. Donna edwards from maryland. Are there any other members here . Oh, of course, and again, i just want to thank our leader for being here, nancy pelosi. Thank you very much. Thank you so much. And before you all do that, point of personal privilege, there are two others in the room that need to be acknowledged for their Unbelievable Service and those are my children. Who are out of school today and are angry with me for pointing all this attention to them. Miles and madison, i love you both so much. Everything i do is for you all. So will yall stand up just for a minute . Allow everyone to see what im so proud of . Glaring at me,is its a problem. I might have to become a member of the n. R. A. , just for the rights, not for the politics. Lets do this. I need you all to be able to give Closing Remarks in two minutes. Will be respectfully, ridiculously interruptive after the two minutes. If we can start with wade and end with the congresswoman. Thank you, jeff. Thanks to the audience. A great and important program. Let me say, guys, again this is all about the vote and our power. And i think weve underscored that. But i want to talk to the brother who raised this issue about bias as my closing remark. You know, we have a study out from the department of education, 4yearold kids, black kids are 16 , 18 of the preschool enrollment. Yet they are 46 of those who are expeled from preschool. Now im telling you guys, bias is out there. Its real. But if youre going to deal with it, youre going to need a multiracial coalition. Youre going to need a coalition because only in coalitions is there strength. And beyond what we can produce ourselves. Weve got to be in coalition. And we have to recognize that every issue has an interest that we serve. The brother here from honduras. Immigration is a black american issue. Just as it is an issue for other communities and we need to be a part of these debates. So i would say we have the power. Hands up, go vote, and im looking to see us make a difference in november because if we dont, then this effort would have been for naught and an interesting conversation, but if we dont turn it into a real show of power and force, then were not anywhere. And thank you for the pportunity to be here. We have had the right to vote for 144 years. Since 1870. Women have had it for 94 years. Since 1920. Voters Voter Suppression is nothing new. Nothing new. Throughout we have had the right to vote on paper for that amount of time. There have been three periods that you have had severe voting prerepresentation. One started in the 1890s after the brothers elected those 24 blacks. They started lynching them and changing the poll tax, that was the first period. And they drove us all out of congress in 1901. Next back from the south got back with mel watt back in 1972. Next, 1992. Next, the Second Period was the Voting Rights act, 1965. All the folks through the 1950s and 1960s try to give us a Voting Rights act to give us our rights. The third Voter Suppression period is when . Right now. Were in it. So others know our power. We have to know it. Peff to we have to protect it and despite what they do, weve got to find a way to get to these polls and make our vote count. Thats all. Thank you so much. Congressman lewis. Jeff, thank you very much for moderating this group. I dont want to say that much enough vote, i think has been said. I think its important for young people to understand our history. To understand the distance we have come. The progress we have made as a people and as a nation. Were not there yet. We have not yet created the beloved community. But in the process of moving, we must learn to be kind to each other. And respect the dignity and the worth of every human being. In this country, thon little piece of real estate, weve got to learn to live together as brothers and sisters. It doesnt matter whether were black or white, latino, Asian American or native american. Were not going any place. Were going to be here. The country is changing. And theres so many of our brothers and sisters living in fear. They fear the unknown. But you must not be afraid. And understand that our struggle is not a struggle that lasts for one day, one week, or one month or one year or one lifetime. But you must do what you must do. And pay your dues. Like our forefathers and ancestors did. Resources. I want to just give a few resources. For people to use in helping people become Voting Rights champions all over this country. I mention the tool kit on our website at lawyerscommittee. Org. We also just put out a mobile app for your smartphone where you can call anybody in the country and say, are you registered to vote, and if they say, i dont know, i think so. Whatever. I dont think so. Whatever. You can actually look it up for them and tell them if theyre registered. You can tell them where to go register. What the rules are in their state. And you can also use the app to tell them how to register online. To use the National Voter registration form. It has all that information. Et that app right now by texting 90975. Thats 90975. Once again if you go to lawyerscommittee. Org youll find that information. The other resource we have for you right now is you can call our hotline. We have legal volunteers available to answer your questions. If you dont know if its possible for somebody to who is an exfelon to vote in your state if you dont know what the rules are about voting in your state and youre curious about voter i. D. If it applies, etc. Call 1866ourvote. 1866ourvote. 1866 hp 8678683. Weve got people to give you the information. Ultimately, as somebody said, its about resources. These are resources that help you to be a great Voting Rights champion. I hope that youll sign the statement. I hope youll be there. I am thrilled at this moment. Im not negative at all. Because but you are out of time. Change is coming and as car cus corby says, look for me that the whirlwind. Yes, maam. Textd just to repeat that, epapp to 90705. Just want to make sure we got that to 90975. Let me begin by first thanking chairwoman fudge and all the members of the black caucus for inviting me to be here as well. Weve heard the word them for a long time. Thats always troubling. When they use the word them, we know what comes. But has it ever been different . Have you ever heard a different word . And today we had a great conversation about all the things we need to do. But theyre still using the word them out there. About a month ago a lot of us believed in the Latino Community that something great was going to happen because the president was going to do Something Congress would not because republicans kept blocking reform of a broken immigration system. But it didnt come there is deep disappointment and as was said, this is not an issue just for the Latino Community. Deep disappointment. But theres now a movement to tell people, you should not go vote because people didnt come through the way you wanted them. To that is a dangerous thing. Every month for the next 20 50,000 latinos a month will turn 18. If were smart, we see the power that is right there in our hands. So lets do something a little demincht congress. We no longer talk so much about the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus or the congressional Asian Pacific american caucus. But about the tricaucus and how were working together. So my message is, we cant be on the defensive. We cant just react when ferguson comes along. It has to be the offensive. Nancy pelosi, who has stayed throughout this entire session and its not often you get a lead wher sticks around for two hours, can tell you best that we could have all the will power we want but if you dont put skin in the game if you dont put money on the table, its going to take a lot longer system of my final message is this. We need to own voter registration. We need to own voter registration. No one else will do it for us. We need to own voter registration. Got to put money on the table for it. We decide how it gets done for us. Dont let them do it. Let us do it. We need to own voter registration. Thank you. Congresswoman fudge. Thank you so much. I want to thank everyone for coming, especially this panel and jeff. I was listening to elaine and i had been thinking about it earlier, i was think, 50 years after the civil rights act, we are still begging people to vote. I do not understand it. There are two things i want you to think about. I hope youll spend this much time with your local elected officials. I guarantee you most people in this room have not done that. With your school board, with your city council. Then you wont be calling me talking about somebody to pick up your trash. You need to call your City Council Person for that i say it that way because i need you to understand, we all have a role to play. And the Congressional Black Caucus cannot do it all by ourselves. Everybody has to do their part. We are a very resilient people. We have come through more than any race of people on this earth. And you mean to tell me we cant stand up to fight for ourselves . I dont know what to say to you. But i will say these words to you. The black caucus fights for you every day. Even when you wont fight for yourself. We fight for you. Whether its immigration or education. Whether its food stamps. Whether its housing. We fight for you every day system of my message to you is to contain your complaining. Contain your complaining. You need to take it. We all talk about were christians and all that. You need to take your eyes off of your circumstance and look to the future. Because today is not where were going. Today may be a bad day. Maybe they dont respect us today. But take your eyes off of your circumstance and look to god if youre a christian. And if youre not a christian, just look to the future. But stop complaining about today. And make tomorrow better. Amen. If we could do this very quickly, anybody in the audience who is under the age of 21, will you please stand. Its all right. If youre under and youre you all stay standing. If youre under 25, please stand. All right. If youre 30 or under, please stand. Now lets be very clear. It was said earlier that theres never been a Movement Without young people. And i have to give a caveat. Theres never been a movement that has not been led by wrung people. And so it is essential that all of us in the room who are not standing up look at these young leaders. Because this is theirs. If we fail to support them if we fail to help them be trained. If we fail to lift up their issues. If we fail to listen to their voice. If we fail to elevate their voice. Kill our we will own legacy. Because whether we agree with how these young people do it or not is not the issue. Its that we support them even in the face of that disagreement when they are operating in the call that god has for them before any of us were here to lead our community to the next level system of for all those standing, i salute you. I salute the work youre doing. I support the i salute the medaling youre using. I applaud your intellect and your willingness to do it different even in the face of haters. Bless you all and we are here for you. God bless you. Lets give this panel an unbelievable round of applause. Congresswoman marcia fudge. Congressman becerra. Barbara. Congressman lewis. Elaine, can i get some of that energy . And wayne henderson. Thank you all so much, have a great conference. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2014] eric holder is stepping down as u. S. Attorney general. President obama said mr. Holder will leave the Justice Department as soon as his successor is confirmed. That announcement next on cspan. After that, remarks from the president of iran. At the united nations. Nd more election coverage. That debate later. On the next washington journal an update on the u. S. Lead military campaign against the militant group isis in syria. Well talk to kevin barren of defense one. Then a look at baron of defense one. Then a look atsen a census report on poverty which found that 45 million americans live below the poverty line. Robet doar and olivia golden will join us. Well take your phone calls on resignation of attorney general holder. You can also join the conversation on facebook and twitter. Eric holder is stepping down as u. S. Attorney general. Speaking at the white house, president obama says he will leave the Justice Department as soon as his successor is confirmed. This is 10 minutes. Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States and attorney general eric holder. Hello, everybody. Lease have a seat. Bobby kennedy once said, on this generation of americans falls the full burden of proving to the world that we really mean it when we say all men are created free and equal before the law. As one of the longestserving attorney generals in american history, eric holder has borne that burden. And over the summer, he came to me and he said he thought six years was a pretty good run i imagine his family agrees. Like me, eric married up. He and his wife, dr. Sharon malone, a nationallyrenowned obgyn, have been great friends to michelle and me for years. And i know brooke and maya and buddy are excited to get their dad back for a while. O this is bittersweet. But with his typical dedication, eric has agreed to stay on as attorney general until i nominate his successor and that successor is confirmed by the senate. Which means hell have a chance to add to a proud career of Public Service one that began nearly 40 years ago as a young prosecutor in the department that he now runs. He was there for 12 years, taking on political corruption until president reagan named him to the bench as a judge. Later, president clinton called him back. So all told, eric has served at the Justice Department under six president s of both parties including a severalday stint as acting attorney general at the start of george w. Bushs first term. And through it all, hes shown a deep and abiding fidelity to one of our most cherished ideals as a people, and that is equal justice under the law. As younger men, eric and i both studied law. And i chose him to serve as attorney general because he believes, as i do, that justice is not just an abstract theory. Its a living and breathing principle. Its about how our laws interact with our daily lives. Its about whether we can make an honest living, whether we can provide for our families; whether we feel safe in our own communities and welcomed in our own country; whether the words that the founders set to paper 238 years ago apply to every single one of us and not just ome. Thats why i made him americas lawyer, the peoples lawyer. That comes with a big portfolio from counterterrorism to civil rights, public corruption to whitecollar crime. And alongside the incredible men and women of the Justice Department men and women that i promise you he is proud of and will deeply miss eric has done a superb job. Hes worked side by side with our Intelligence Community and the department of Homeland Security to keep us safe from terrorist attacks and to counter violent extremism. On his watch, federal courts have successfully prosecuted hundreds of terror cases, proving that the worlds finest Justice System is fully capable of delivering justice for the worlds mostwanted terrorists. Hes rooted out corruption and fought violent crime. Under his watch, a few years ago, the fbi successfully carried out the largest mafia takedown in american history. Hes worked closely with state and local Law Enforcement officers to make sure that theyve got the resources to get the job done. And hes managed funds under the recovery act to make sure that when budgets took a hit, thousands of cops were able to stay on the beat nationwide. Hes helped safeguard our markets from manipulation, and consumers from financial fraud. Since 2009, the Justice Department has brought more than 60 cases against financial institutions, and won some of the largest settlements in