Date: 2011-10-11
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

There are many times that we come to the floor to address our current plight. I do wish to say to the American people that were well aware of the importance of jobs and the focus of creating those jobs. and I would offer to you that most economists will say that job creation is a public and private partnership. That is a very important issue. I rise today. however. as. again. those who seek the Republican nomination for the Presidency of the United States will come before the American people this evening. They will present a number of issues. This time it will be jobs. I hope they will present themselves in a manner that acknowledges that anyone who has the privilege of serving serves on behalf of the American people. And the American people come from all backgrounds. and I respect that. In particular. Im going to ask the Governor of the State of Texas. in his good vices and his beliefs in the equality of all. to reflect upon a decision that is about to be made in the State of Texas. and that is a decision in 2011 to issue a Confederate license plate. Confederatethe same group of individuals who opted to secede from the Union. I am here as someone who applauds and appreciates the sacrifice that any person in uniform makes. I will not step away from the idea that much blood was shed in the Civil War. But what I am offering to say is that in 2011 it would be a disgrace. it would be outrageous. to uplift the Confederacy on a license plate in the State of Texas. Let me tell you why. First of all. one of the most heinous tragedies of this great countrys history was the holding of slaves. More importantly. millions of slaves destined for the United States and the Americas died in that dark passage before they even got to this soil. The brutality of slavery is without doubt and without question. The State of Texas continued slavery for 2 years longer than any other place in the United States because we did not get notice for 2 years after President Lincoln declared the Emancipation Proclamation. Who wants to ignite and remind you of that kind of devastating history? And so. as the Texas Motor Vehicle Department makes a decision. I beg of their members to recognize that this is not a uniting action but a dividing action. because the action will be a Stateissued plate that would affirm the brutality against African Americans. against slaves. against the ancestors who paid with their life to build this country. There was no debt ever paid for the 400 years of slavery. for the dividing of families. the brutality against children. the hanging and brutality that continued even into Jim Crow. And as we look to the honoring of the monument of Dr. Martin Luther King this coming week. I beg of my fellow Texans on this board to recognize that this is a national issue. It is a national issue of prominence because to issue a Confederate license plate is to go and do what many States have undonethe removing of the symbols of the Confederacy. the taking away of the "Rebel" name for the University of Texas. Why? Because they believe in moving America forward and focusing on such things as bringing our troops home and honoring them. focusing on such things as creating jobs. And how heinous would it be for the State of Texas. one of the largest States in the Nation. to have its young men who are of African American heritage on the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan to come home and have to look at a Confederate license plate. This is not free speech. This is not freedom of speech. Because anyone who desires to promote that particular life and legacy. they are so allowed to do so. They may print anything in the privacy of their home. wear anything. put anything on their front yard. their back yard. but not a Stateissued plate with Texas dollars embedded inside of that particular symbol. America is greater than that. I love this country. All of us are patriots because we love this Nation no matter what side of the aisle. And I might remind you. Madam Speaker. that a Republican state senatorI want to thank himhas indicated that we should not have this kind of symbol in Texas. I beg you. Mr. Perry. tonight to speak to your higher angels and talk about bringing us together. Do not issue a confederate license plate in the State of Texas for Gods sake. And God bless America.