Harder Yet May Be The Fight

Floor Speech

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al Green) is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, many years ago I heard Dr. Benjamin Hooks, who at the time was the executive director of the National NAACP, proclaim in the words of C.A. Tinsley, ``Harder yet may be the fight.'' I thought I understood what he meant at the time; however, events as of late have provided additional occularity and given me greater clarity with reference to this statement, ``Harder yet may be the fight.''

First, a brief vignette. On Sunday, prior to voting on the health care bill that was signed by the President, as I was leaving the Cannon Office Building, I had a friend to share with me what was thought to be some sage advice. My friend indicated that it might be prudent--not necessarily in these words--or judicious to make my way to the Capitol Building by way of the tunnel because there were persons who were saying ugly things and doing ugly things in the area that I would have to traverse.

I thought. And as I thought, I reflected on Rosa Parks, a lone African American female in the segregated South, who concluded on one evening that she was going to stand up for justice and do what was right by taking a seat on a bus. And little did she know that, by taking that seat, she would ignite a spark that would start a civil rights movement. I would add that it was Virginia Durr, an Anglo female, who posted the bail for Rosa Parks to get out of jail.

I reflected on 1965 and what we now know as Bloody Sunday, when there were persons who wanted to peacefully march from Selma to Montgomery, and they knew that as they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge there were members of the constabulary waiting on the other side of the bridge prepared to do them harm under the color of law. And they did. I would also remind us that it was Frank Johnson, an Anglo Federal judge, who signed the law that allowed the march to continue. He signed an order.

And as I reflected on these incidents, I realized that if Rosa Parks could take that seat by herself, surely I could cross that street and come over to vote. And I realized that if those marchers, including John Lewis, could march into the constabulary armed with clubs, I could surely cross that street with a constabulary out to protect me.

And so I bring these thoughts to the attention of this House because this truly is a fight. C.A. Tinsley was right. The fight is not yet over. Harder yet may be the fight. But I want to commend those persons of good will who have stood up and spoken up against the behavior that was exhibited by the persons who were out on the streets. I commend every person, Republican, Democrat. It doesn't matter your party affiliation. This kind of behavior merits condemnation.

I would simply close with this. As we move forward and as these kinds of ugly incidents take place, I beg that we would continue to condemn this behavior, because C.A. Tinsley was right:

Harder yet may be the fight. Might may often yield to right. Wickedness awhile may seem to reign, and Satan's cause may seem to gain. But there's a God that rules above, with a hand of power and a heart of love. And when we're right, he will help us fight. Harder yet may be the fight.

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