Lewis discuss the life and legacy of wallace. They look at whether political concerns or racism motivated wallace to oppose integration. This event took place at the Birmingham Public Library in birmingham, alabama. Its about 90 minutes. In birmingham, they love the governor. This line from Lynyrd Skynyrds 1974 song sweet home alabama may be one of the most debated lines from one of the most debated songs in american music. George wallace was so taken with the song when he first heard it that he planned to issue a special gubernatorial citation to lynyrd skynyrd. But then one of the governors aides suggest he listen more closely to the line that follows in birmingham they love the governor. The next line anybody remember . Boo, boo, boo. Sung by a group of female africanamerican backup singers. Including, by the way, the great mary clayton who originated the role of the acid queen in the wh whos tommy. That has nothing to do with what were talking about tonight. I just think thats a co
He dedicated his entire life to nonviolent activism and was an outspoken advocate in the struggle for equal justice in america. He will be deeply missed. John lewis was born a sharecroppers son on a cotton farm. Lewis attended segregated schools. He spent his life as an activist fighting for civil rights. Often speaking out about the importance of getting into, quote, good trouble. That included the lunch counter sitins during segregation. Altogether it was a moving feeling within me that i was sitting there demanding a god given right and my soul became satisfied that i was right in what i was doing. At the same time there was something deep down within me moving me that i could no longer be satisfied with an evil system that i had to be maladjusted to it, and in spite of all of this, i had to keep loving the people who denied me service, who stared at me. Lewis was arrested during the freedom rides of 1961 in mississippi for using a socalled white restroom. He was the last surviving
I feel lucky and blessed that im serving in the congress. But there are forces today trying to take us back to another time and another dark period. Weve come so far, weve made so much progress. But as a nation and as a people, were not quite there yet. We have miles to go. We do not want our freedom gradually. We want to be free now. Were marching today to dramatize to the world hundreds of thousands of negro citizens denied the right to vote. For too long, other people have been deciding for us. We must have some control over our own political destiny. No Police Departments will keep us from marching up and down the streets of the city of atlanta. Too many people suffer and die to make it possible for every american to exercise their right to vote. I have on my marching shoes. Thats right. Im fired up. Fired up. Im ready to march. Lets do it. Speak up, speak out, and get in what i call good trouble, necessary trouble. Do what is right. When i was a young boy, i remember dr. King and
Mccaskill announced today shell hold a Senate Hearing on the militarization of the police next month. A response to those shocking images of officers in Armored Vehicles pointing long guns at citizens in the early days of the protests. While the unrest over the shooting of mike brown seems to be calming down, supporters for his killer, officer Darren Wilson are organizing. Yesterday a prowilson rally in st. Louis was attended by only 100 according to one report, buu so, i know the pain of that, and the fact that he was a Police Officer and killed in the line of duty had nothing to do with any of that. What it did for me, or to me, was made me, i think, a fierce advocate for victims of a÷ hes saying hes not going to recuse himself from the case, shooting of Michael Brown. He thinks that would be a dereliction of duty on his part. He says you have the authority to order him off case. I have to read you some of the quotes because hes been pointed in what what he said about you. Your refu
We talk about it here as separation of the races. Customs and traditions that have been built up over the last hundred years that have proved for the best interests of both, the colored and the white people. It was almost 100 years after the emancipation proclamation, and america is still rigidly and racially segregated. Black people couldnt vote in the south. They couldnt even go into the Public Libraries. The Public Libraries were segregated. The churches were segregated. Amen we are in atlanta, georgia, in the Ebenezer Baptist church where a father and son are the copastors. Frankly, as others have said, i dont know what the future holds but i know who holds the future. This is our hope. This is that something that keeps us going. Martin luther king was immensely frustrated by the end of the 1950s because he had become famous, hes preaching all over the country, he knows thats his gift. But he says, people cry at my sermons, and the next morning its still segregated. Martin king cal