Date: 2014-12-03
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to say thank you to the many persons who serve in law enforcement. They have difficult jobs. and they do their jobs well. I salute them. I also salute the many persons who have been engaged in peaceful protests. What they have been attempting to do. I support. A peaceful protest is the best protest. Peaceful protests can make a difference in the lives of people. I know. because I stand here today because of peaceful protests. I would like to continue what I started on yesterday. when I indicated that I would give a response today to a query that was made on Morning Joe. And I want my colleagues to know that I dont believe the query was made with malice aforethought. I think it was a genuine expression of concern. While intonations and expressions may connote otherwise to some. I believe that this is a question that should have been asked and that needs to be answered. The question was: What is wrong with these people?-meaning three Members of Congress. What is wrong with these people that they would come to the well of the House of Representatives and they would hold their hands up? What is wrong with them? Here is the answer. my dear brother: the same thing that was wrong with the Pilgrims and caused them to come to Plymouth Rock. the same thing that caused persons to throw tea into the Boston Harbor. the same thing that caused farmers to traverse the country on tractors and come to the United States Capitol to protest. the same thing that caused Rosa Parks to take a seat on a bus against the law. the same thing that caused Dr. King to march from Selma to Montgomery. the same thing that caused them to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge on what is known as Bloody Sunday. What is wrong with these people? They refuse to accept injustice. I refuse to accept injustice. What happened in Ferguson was an injustice. I refuse to accept injustice. Injustice anywhere is still a threat to justice everywhere. Dr. King was right. Injustice in Ferguson is a threat to justice in Houston. a threat to justice in Boston. Injustice anywhere is still a threat to justice everywhere. And so I will continue to hold my hands up. I will continue to support those who engage in peaceful protest. Because holding ones hands up is an indication that you dont have anything that will be harmful. an indication that you are willing to move freely and give an opinion about something that you believe to be important. I think that this will symbolize a movement that will metamorphose far beyond the initial reason for it being developed. I am absolutely convinced that this will not eviscerate. this will not evaporate. that it is not going to go away. It is going to become part of the protest movement. I also want to note that what happened with the Rams players was a seminal moment. and I want to legitimize what they did. I have already said that I will have flags flown over the Capitol of the United States of America in each persons name. Somebody is going to say. well. what about the people who may have committed a crime? Washington wasnt perfect. but we honored him. Jefferson wasnt perfect. we honor him. I am going to honor them for what they did at that seminal moment. just as I believe John Carlos and Tommie Smith should be honored for what they did when they held their hands up. indicating that they were protesting at the Olympics in 68. So I. Mr. Speaker. am honored to have this opportunity today to indicate to the world. finally. that Dr. King was right when he said the truest measure of the person is not where the person stands in times of comfort and convenience. when everybody is patting you on the back. when everybody loves you. all your bills are paid. when things couldnt be better. The truest measure of the person is not where you stand in times of comfort and convenience. The truest measure of the person is where do you stand in times of challenge and controversy. when people are throwing the slings and arrows of life at you because you took a simple stand against injustice. And it was injustice. I can explain it. I regret that I wasnt invited on the program to give my point of view. So I had to take to the floor of the House of Representatives to give what I would have given. if given the opportunity. God bless you. Mr. Speaker.