we ve got to keep all our pressure on the john lewis voting le rights act as well as the freedom to vote act. given the make-up in congress and given what happened yesterday, how can you be optimistic? well, let me just say this. i actually went to the senate floor and i sat there for hours with members of the congressional black caucus, such as our chairwoman, joyce batie and others, members of the delegation, even john sarbanes, the person who co-authored the for the people act. we sat there, we took turns. and, you know, while it was a day that was a day of disappointment, it was also a day that was important for us for people to do something, to be on the record, to vote for something so that we can continue to press on. so there was disappointment, frustration. but for me that means we ve got to redouble our efforts. and i was so much reminded of
freedom to vote act. given the make-up in congress and given what happened yesterday, how can you be optimistic? well, let me just say this. i actually went to the senate floor and i sat there for hours with members of the congressional black caucus, joyce batie and others, members of the delegation, even the person who coauthored the for the people act. we sat there, we took turns. and, you know, while it was a day that was a day of disappointment, it was also a day that was important for us for people to do something, to be on the record, to vote for something so that we can continue to press on. so there was disappointment, frustration. but for me that means we ve got to redouble our efforts. and i was so much reminded of john lewis. i mean, i looked around that room. i looked across the aisle. i listened and i thought about the fact that a lot of people
response to the people watching saying black voters, they matter here. ten people were arrested today including a member of congress. that s georgia congressman hank johnson in the purple tie and sunglasses there, participating in that momentary blockade in the senate office today to try to push the envelope, to try to demand action on voting rights. so he was among those arrested today, put in handcuffs, hauled away by police. hank johnson is the second sitting member of congress to be arrested in the past week for participating in direct action, in nonviolent civil disobedience around voting rights. last week you ll remember our coverage it was ohio congresswoman joyce batie arrested in the lobby of that same senate office building. today s protest was organized by the group black voters matter. you notice it was black women leading the protest last week, black men today. it s the latest of what has been
delayers, all of those is to get to work. how long do i have to speak inhow often do i have to talk? and where do i have to go to tell that story? whatever it takes we will be there as nonviolent perpetrators of the civil disobedient persons we are. and i leave you in the name of the late john lewis who said carry on. carry on. carry on. i will carry on. texas congresswoman sheila jackson lee today urging senators to ditch the filibuster and pass federal voting rights legislation. you heard her talk about civil disobedience there. well, shortly after those remarks from the congresswoman several of the activists and leaders she was speaking alongside as well as one fellow member of congress, congressman hank johnson who you saw in the background there, several of