[Pages H5371-H5378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

COMMENDING MEDGAR WILEY EVERS AND MYRLIE EVERS-WILLIAMS FOR THEIR LIVES
AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 220) commending Medgar Wiley Evers
and his widow, Myrlie Evers-Williams, for their lives and
accomplishments.
The Clerk read as follows:

H. Con. Res. 220

Whereas a pioneer in the fight for racial justice, Medgar
Wiley Evers, was born July 2, 1925, in Decatur, Mississippi,
to James and Jessie Evers;
Whereas, to faithfully serve his country, Medgar Evers left
high school to join the Army when World War II began and,
after coming home to Mississippi, he completed high school,
enrolled in Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College,
presently known as Alcorn State University, and majored in
business administration;
Whereas, as a student at Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical
College, Evers was a member of the debate team, the college
choir, and the football and track teams, was the editor of
the campus newspaper and the yearbook, and held several
student offices, which gained him recognition in Who's Who in
American Colleges;
Whereas, while a junior at Alcorn Agricultural and
Mechanical College, Evers met a freshman named Myrlie
Beasley, whom he married on December 24, 1951, and with whom
he spent the remainder of his life;
Whereas, after Medgar Evers received a bachelor of arts
degree, he moved to historic Mound Bayou, Mississippi, became
employed by Magnolia Mutual Life Insurance Company, and soon
began establishing local chapters of the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People (referred to in this
resolution as the ``NAACP'') throughout the Delta region;
Whereas, moved by the plight of African-Americans in
Mississippi and a desire to change the conditions facing
them, in 1954, after the United States Supreme Court ruled
school segregation unconstitutional, Medgar Evers became the
first known African-American person to apply for admission to
the University of Mississippi Law School, but was denied that
admission;
Whereas, as a result of that denial, Medgar Evers contacted
the NAACP to take legal action;
Whereas, in 1954, Medgar Evers was offered a position as
the Mississippi Field Secretary for the NAACP, and he
accepted the position, making Myrlie Evers his secretary;
Whereas, with his wife by his side, Medgar Evers began a
movement to register people to vote in Mississippi and, as a
result of his activities, he received numerous threats;
Whereas, in spite of the threats, Medgar Evers persisted,
with dedication and courage, to organize rallies, build the
NAACP's membership, and travel around the country with Myrlie
Evers to educate the public;
Whereas Medgar Evers' passion for quality education for all
children led him to file suit

[[Page H5372]]

against the Jackson, Mississippi public schools, which gained
him national media coverage;
Whereas Medgar Evers organized students from Tougaloo and
Campbell Colleges, coordinated and led protest marches,
organized boycotts of Jackson businesses and sit-ins, and
challenged segregated bus seating, and for these heroic
efforts, he was arrested, beaten, and jailed;
Whereas the violence against Medgar Evers came to a climax
on June 12, 1963, when he was shot and killed in front of his
home;
Whereas, after the fingerprints of an outspoken
segregationist were recovered from the scene of the shooting,
and 2 juries deadlocked without a conviction in the shooting
case, Myrlie Evers and her 3 children moved to Claremont,
California, where she enrolled in Pomona College and earned
her bachelor's degree in sociology in 1968;
Whereas, after Medgar Evers' death, Myrlie Evers began to
create her own legacy and emerged as a national catalyst for
justice and equality by becoming active in politics, becoming
a founder of the National Women's Political Caucus, running
for Congress in California's 24th congressional district,
serving as Commissioner of Public Works for Los Angeles,
using her writing skills to serve as a correspondent for
Ladies Home Journal and to cover the Paris Peace Talks, and
rising to prominence as Director of Consumer Affairs for the
Atlantic Richfield Company;
Whereas Myrlie Evers became Myrlie Evers-Williams when she
married Walter Williams in 1976;
Whereas, in the 1990's, Evers-Williams convinced
Mississippi prosecutors to reopen Medgar Evers' murder case,
and the reopening of the case led to the conviction and life
imprisonment of Medgar Evers' killer;
Whereas Evers-Williams became the first female to chair the
64-member Board of Directors of the NAACP, to provide
guidance to an organization that was dear to Medgar Evers'
heart;
Whereas Evers-Williams has published her memoirs, entitled
``Watch Me Fly: What I Learned on the Way to Becoming the
Woman I Was Meant to Be'', to enlighten the world about the
struggles that plagued her life as the wife of an activist
and empowered her to become a community leader;
Whereas Evers-Williams is widely known as a motivational
lecturer and continues to speak out against discrimination
and injustice;
Whereas her latest endeavor has brought her home to
Mississippi to make two remarkable contributions, through the
establishment of the Evers Collection and the Medgar Evers
Institute, which advance the knowledge and cause of social
injustice and which encompass the many lessons in the life's
work of Medgar Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams;
Whereas Evers-Williams has presented the extraordinary
papers in that Collection and Institute to the Mississippi
Department of Archives and History, where the papers are
being preserved and catalogued; and
Whereas it is the policy of Congress to recognize and pay
tribute to the lives and accomplishments of extraordinary
Mississippians such as Medgar Evers and Myrlie Evers-
Williams, whose life sacrifices have contributed to the
betterment of the lives of the citizens of Mississippi as
well as the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That--
(1) Congress commends Medgar Wiley Evers and his widow,
Myrlie Evers-Williams, and expresses the greatest respect and
gratitude of Congress, for their lives and accomplishments;
(2) Congress supports the establishment of a ``Medgar Evers
National Week of Remembrance''; and
(3) copies of this resolution shall be furnished to the
family of Medgar Wiley Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Carter) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter).

General Leave

Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on the concurrent resolution currently being considered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 220, introduced by my
distinguished colleague, the gentleman from the State of Mississippi
(Mr. Thompson), commends Medgar Wiley Evers and his widow, Myrlie
Evers-Williams for their lives and accomplishments. I am proud that
this House is considering this legislation, because it can serve as an
important history lesson to all of those who witness these proceedings
here today.
Mr. Speaker, as legislative business began this afternoon, we recited
the Pledge of Allegiance on this floor as we do every day. But today it
seems especially appropriate to revisit that vow just before this House
honors a man and a woman who have lived their lives based on the belief
that in this country, more than anywhere else in the world, there
should surely be ``liberty and justice for all.''

{time} 1515

Mr. Speaker, Medgar Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams are each
remarkable civil rights leaders who have accomplished great deeds on
behalf of countless Americans.
Medgar was born in Decatur, Mississippi, in 1925. He dropped out of
high school at the age of 17 to join the Army during World War II. When
he safely returned home, he completed high school and went on to attend
and graduate from Alcorn A&M College. He landed a job with an insurance
agency before becoming a field secretary to the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People in Jackson, Mississippi.
Medgar soon met a young Mississippi woman named Myrlie who also
worked for the NAACP, and they married in 1951. Tragically, 12 years
later, Medgar Evers was dreadfully shot and killed outside his home.
Despite this unbelievable heartbreak, Myrlie Evers-Williams has
carried on. She soon moved to Claremont, California, with her three
children to begin a new life. Among her many subsequent accomplishments
Ms. Evers-Williams became the first black woman to serve on the Los
Angeles Board of Public Works where she oversaw nearly 6,000 public
employees and a budget of $400 million. In addition, she was the first
woman elected to chair the NAACP in 1995 and continues to be a valuable
asset to the association as chairman emeritus.
Mr. Speaker, I want to remind this House that last Thursday was the
40th anniversary of the tragic assassination of Medgar Evers that
occurred on June 12, 1963. Early this afternoon, a national day of
remembrance was observed at Medgar Evers' grave site in Arlington
National Cemetery. This sober and beautiful event marked the end of the
Medgar Evers National Week of Remembrance organized by the Medgar Evers
Institute founded last year by Myrlie Evers-Williams. The week featured
events across the State of Mississippi, including celebration of his
life in Newton, a prayer and candlelight vigil in Jackson, and a
symposium on his works and achievements in Tougaloo.
Mr. Speaker, for all these reasons, I urge all Members to support the
adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 220 that honors the lives of
these two fine people, Medgar Wiley Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams. I
sincerely thank my colleague from Mississippi for introducing this
important resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
might consume.
I want to thank the gentleman from Texas for his remarks, and I am
pleased to join with him as we consider H. Con. Res. 220, a bill
commending Medgar Wiley Evers and his widow Myrlie Evers-Williams for
their lives and accomplishments.
Mr. Speaker, on June 12, 1963, a black civil rights activist was
murdered in front of his home and became a martyr for the cause. On
that same day, that very same day, his wife became even more committed
to the cause and to the work that they were doing.
Medgar Wiley Evers was born July 2, 1925, near Decatur, Mississippi,
and attended school there until he was inducted into the Army in 1943.
After serving in Normandy, France, he attended Alcorn College, where he
met Myrlie Beasley of Vicksburg, Mississippi. They were married the
next year on December 14, 1951.
After receiving his degree, Medgar Evers moved to Mound Bayou,
Mississippi, during which time he began to establish local chapters of
the NAACP throughout the Delta and organizing boycotts of gasoline
stations that refused to allow blacks to use their restrooms.
He worked in Mound Bayou as an insurance agent until 1954, the year a
Supreme Court decision ruled school desegregation unconstitutional.
Despite

[[Page H5373]]

the Court's rulings, Evers applied for and was denied admission to the
University of Mississippi Law School. His actions caught the attention
of the NAACP's national office, and he was appointed Mississippi's
first field secretary for the NAACP.
Medgar and Myrlie moved to Jackson where they worked together to set
up the NAACP office, began to investigate violent crimes committed
against blacks and rallied civil rights demonstrators and organized
voter registration drives.
On June 12, 1963, a few hours after President Kennedy had made an
extraordinary broadcast to the Nation on the subject of civil rights,
Medgar Evers was shot in the back and killed. It was then that Myrlie
Evers-Williams began her relentless search for her husband's killer.
Medgar Evers's accused killer, Byron De La Beckworth, a white
segregationist, was tried and released after two hung jury mistrials.
Despite these initial defeats, Myrlie Evers-Williams continued
searching for new evidence in the case. Mr. Beckworth was finally
convicted in 1994 and sentenced to life in prison.
In June of 1988, Myrlie Evers-Williams became the first black woman
to be appointed to the Los Angeles five-member Board of Public Works.
In 1995, she ascended to the national chairmanship of the NAACP and
served until 1998. She had written two books, one, ``For Us, the
Living,'' and two, ``Watch Me Fly: What I Learned on the Way to
Becoming the Woman I was Meant to Be.''
One can look at the number of black elected officials in
Mississippi--today the State that has more African Americans elected to
public office than any other State in the Nation--and when we do that
we see the work of Medgar and Myrlie. Look at the number of blacks
enrolled in each of Mississippi's public and private institutions of
higher learning, and we see the work of Medgar and Myrlie. We can look
at the former Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Espy. We can look at State
Senator David Jordan, and of course, we can look at the gentleman from
Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), a Member of this body and the originator of
this legislation.
When we look at all of that development, we see the work, we see the
impact, we see the influence, we see the lives of Medgar and Myrlie
Evers. So it is indeed altogether fitting and proper that, on this day,
I am often reminded of the fact that the Constitution of the United
States of America suggests that all men, I guess if we were writing it
today, it would say ``all men and women, are created equal and endowed
by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, and that among those
would be life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.''
Medgar and Myrlie Evers pursued rights, not only for themselves but
rights for others, and as a result of that pursuit, he gave the most
precious thing that one could ever have and the most precious thing
that one could ever give, that is, indeed, his life. So I am pleased to
join with those who would pause on this day to pay tribute to their
lives and to their legacy.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to
the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Burns).
Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent
Resolution 220, introduced by the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr.
Thompson) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Pickering.)
The resolution before us today commends two wonderful people for
their wisdom and their vision. Medgar Wiley Evers and his widow Myrlie
Evers-Williams were pioneers in the fight for racial justice. Today, we
honor them for their efforts and recognize them for their
accomplishments.
With a desire to change the conditions facing African Americans in
Mississippi, Medgar Evers became the first African American to apply
for admission to the University of Mississippi Law School. But in 1954,
even after the United States Supreme Court ruled segregation
unconstitutional, Mr. Evers was denied admission.
With his wife at his side, Medgar Evers began a movement to register
voters in Mississippi. In spite of personal threats, he persevered. His
dedication to the improvement of education for all children, regardless
of race, led him to challenge the segregationist systems in Jackson,
Mississippi public schools. He continued to challenge segregation at
every level from educational services to bus seating.
Although Mr. Evers' life was tragically brought to a premature end,
his widow Myrlie Evers-Williams remains an effective voice against
discrimination and injustice. Through the establishment of the Evers
Collection and the Medgar Evers Institute, she advances the knowledge
of the many lessons learned through their lives and through their
experiences.
This resolution is a way in which to remember the challenges that
Myrlie Evers-Williams and Medgar Evers faced and overcame.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate their work. I appreciate their sacrifice. I
appreciate the fact that they pursued a life to improve the lives of
African Americans, certainly in this Nation, but they also improved the
lives of men, women and children of all races and all faces around the
globe.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
might consume.
As I continue to listen and to hear of the great works and the
exploits of Myrlie and Medgar Evers, it occurred to me that in order to
have a full appreciation that one perhaps should have been living
during that time. It just happened for me that I lived not very far
from Mississippi at that time.
I was a young child growing up in the State of Arkansas and actually
lived only about 25 miles from Mississippi, and so I knew a great deal
about Mississippi and had relatives who lived in Mississippi, and so we
would drive across the Mississippi River at Greenville and go and visit
in places like Mound Bayou and Cleveland and Schuller and Lexington and
Greenwood and all through the Delta back the other way.
There was an environment, there was an atmosphere, as a matter of
fact, my brothers and I would sometimes kid ourselves because our
father would never have to chastise us in the car to be quiet when we
got to Mississippi. I mean, there was a feeling and once we crossed the
bridge, we would immediately become silent, and he did not have to say,
``You all be quiet, sit down, do not do things.''
Then when one travels to Mississippi today, they see a very different
Mississippi. They see a Mississippi that in many ways has transformed
itself from the Mississippi of the past to the Mississippi of the
present and moving on to the Mississippi of the future.
One can attribute much of that change to Medgar and Myrlie Evers. One
can attribute much of that change to the era known as the civil rights
period, the movement, the marches, the demonstrations, the willingness
of people to say that change is so necessary until I am willing to run
the risk of being violated or being mutilated of doing whatever it
takes to move out of the dark ages to the brightness of possibility of
what it is that tomorrow can and should bring.
I know, Mr. Speaker, that the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr.
Thompson) should be walking in the door at any moment, but while he is
about to walk into the door, I know one who was indeed a part of the
struggle during that period and was an eloquent voice for civil rights
and human rights and for the movement of all people then, as she is
today.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 6 minutes to the gentlewoman from
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

{time} 1530

Ms. NORTON. I very much thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time, and I thank the chairman for bringing this bill forward; and, of
course, I thank my good colleague, the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr.
Thompson), for introducing this bill.
While this bill has national significance for our country, it has
personal significance for me. Of course Medgar Evers is remembered for
the sacrifice of his life for human rights in this country. I was an
impressionable young law student who had been asked to come to the
delta, not to Jackson, but to the delta to help prepare for what became
the 1964 freedom summer

[[Page H5374]]

by doing a pilot for the voter registration schools that we would do
ultimately for people on the farms who wanted to learn how to register
and vote, a very hard thing to do in Mississippi at the time.
When I came, of course I came not to the delta first but to Jackson
and was told to go to the office of the NAACP. I wanted very much to
meet Medgar Evers, because it had been national publicity that the sit-
ins had only that summer begun in Mississippi. We were through with the
sit-ins in the rest of the country. We were on to the next stage of the
civil rights movement. But I will tell you, Mississippi was another
kettle of fish; and they had been beaten brutally for sitting in.
In the summer of 1963, I wanted to see this brave man. What Medgar
Evers tried to do was to kidnap me from the delta. I was a law student
at a time when there were very few African American law students, and
he wanted me to work in the NAACP office. But I had promised Bob Moses
in Greenwood, Mississippi, that I would come there. So instead, he took
me all around Jackson to various places so that I could meet people in
the Jackson movement.
He took me to his home to meet his extraordinary wife, Myrlie Evers,
now Williams; and we met the children, the very little children. And
then Medgar Evers took me to the bus station, put me on the bus for
Greenwood, Mississippi, and the people got me off the bus in Greenwood,
Mississippi, and took me to a farmer's house. And there I was on the
morning of June 12.
The sharecropper and his wife had gone off to pick string beans, but
they had told me the night before how to take a bath in a tin tub. I
said, all right, that's something I have never done before, city girl
that I am. And I shall never forget. This is one of the searing moments
of my life, when the very young people from the Greenwood Student
Nonviolent Coordinating office came and said, ``Eleanor, aren't you the
student that came in last night? Medgar Evers has been shot and
killed.''
Medgar Evers was shot and killed as he left, obviously, that night
going back to his own home having put me on the bus. Well, when you're
sitting in a tin tub your first day in the delta and you learn that one
of the great heroes of the civil rights movement, who you just left 8
hours before, has been murdered, you have a memory that will last for a
lifetime of a man who our country will remember for a lifetime.
Everybody was gone. People were off raising money. It turned out that
I was the senior person. I became the senior person in the SNCC office
because other young people were off in the north raising money, and it
fell to me to call everybody together to go to the church to do what we
always did when one of those terrible things happened in our country.
I want to say that as a young lawyer, young law student, I had to
remind myself that I was going to law school because I had faith in the
justice system of our country. It took 40 years, but, in fact, the
killer of Medgar Evers was brought to justice. Myrlie Evers, all that
time made it her business to press for justice and, in fact, got
justice. She went on to become the Chair of the NAACP itself, carrying
on the work of Medgar Evers.
I shall never forget this gentle man and how he described the
brutality that he had faced, as if that is what you should expect and
we have to keep going in until it gets done. And the interesting thing
is it had gotten done, at least that part of it had gotten done,
everywhere but in Mississippi. Mississippi was then a closed part of
the country. It was what we meant by terrorism.
The murders of Cheney, Goodman, and Schwerner would occur thereafter;
and there are untold murders that will never see the justice that
Medgar Evers has since seen, for Myrlie Evers-Williams, for the Evers
children who were left without a father, a man who had served in World
War II, in Normandy; that the day would come when the House of
Representatives would in fact recognize what he did for our country
should restore, should restore the faith of those who sometimes lose
faith in our justice system.
Justice was done in Mississippi, we will do justice throughout our
country, and I thank the gentleman once again for yielding me this
time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time
we have left.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). The gentleman from Illinois
(Mr. Davis) has 6 minutes remaining.
Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Pickering), a cosponsor of this
legislation.
Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, I come before the House as a proud
cosponsor of this resolution to commend Medgar Wiley Evers and his
widow, Myrlie Evers. I had the great privilege of coming from Arlington
Cemetery where we gathered with people from all across the country, all
across my State to remember the life and the legacy of Medgar Evers
today. The gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), who is the lead
sponsor of this resolution, will soon join us.
It was 40 years ago that Mississippi lost one of her bright stars.
His flame was extinguished by ignorance and hatred, yet his light
shines on. Today, we do not mourn; we celebrate his life. We celebrate
his courage; we celebrate his commitment for equal justice, equal
protection, equality of opportunity, equality of education, and equal
political rights.
And when we look at his legacy today, I am a son of Mississippi. I am
40 years old this year. In 2 months, I celebrate my 40th birthday. My
first grade class was integrated. I had the great privilege of
attending public schools that were integrated. Political rights came
about not only through Medgar Evers but many others who struggled
during that time so that Mississippi now, in many ways, is making
progress, with the highest number of African American elected officials
in the land.
So educationally, economically, and politically Medgar Evers' legacy
lives on. My colleague asked the question, did he make a difference?
Can one man make a difference? Today, I watched as Myrlie Evers, with
her, her daughter, her children, her grandchildren, talked about the
rich legacy of their father, her husband, of making a difference in my
home State of Mississippi and across this country.
We from Mississippi love our State. We love our people. We want to
overcome the sins and the struggles of the past. We want to find common
ground. We want to find a dialogue. We want to find common values and a
common purpose to move our State forward. Today, in remembrance of
Medgar Evers and finding ways to reconcile the differences of the
present, to overcome the wrong, we now look to the future of how we can
come together as a State and as a people to honor Medgar Evers and the
principles for which he stood: for freedom, for courage, from
overcoming fear, to finding equal opportunity and equal rights.
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. PICKERING. I yield to the gentleman from Mississippi, my good
friend and colleague, who is the lead sponsor of this; and I am glad
that we could come to the floor and work together and remember a great
Mississippian, Medgar Evers.
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
Mississippi (Mr. Pickering), my colleague, for this opportunity. I
would like to pay tribute also to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Davis) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton),
who held the fort down while we were out at Arlington Cemetery paying a
special tribute to the person we are honoring here today, as well as
his widow, Myrlie Evers.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of America's most undercelebrated
martyr of the civil rights movement, Medgar Wiley Evers. Born in
Decatur, Mississippi, Medgar dedicated the 37 years of his life to the
causes of racial equality and the equal opportunity movement. As a 15-
year-old boy in Bolton, Mississippi, I recall one of Medgar's last
televised speeches. He said, ``Tonight, the Negro plantation worker in
the delta knows from his radio and television what happened today all
over the world. He knows what black people are doing and he knows what
white people are doing. He can see on the 6 o'clock news screen the
picture of the 3 o'clock bite by the police dog. He knows about the new

[[Page H5375]]

free nation of Africa and he knows that a Congo native can be a
locomotive engineer, but in Jackson he cannot even drive a garbage
truck.''
Medgar spoke those words 40 years ago, Mr. Speaker, just days before
his assassination. He described a time and place that many African
Americans still know all too well. Medgar's legacy is one of
opportunity. He often spoke of political, economic, and educational
opportunities. Today, we are faced with many of the same challenges.
While the poll tax and the literacy tests are no more, the Voting
Rights Act, which was enacted 2 years before Medgar's assassination, is
still needed to protect the interests of African Americans and other
minorities.
I join my colleagues who have been on the floor here today in paying
tribute to a great Mississippian, one who paid the ultimate sacrifice,
Mr. Speaker, which is to give one's life for what he or she believes
in. So part of what we commemorate today is not only Medgar Wiley Evers
but his widow, who carried on in his stead. She headed the NAACP, she
carried on a number of other organizations, and as we speak today, she
has started the Medgar Evers Institute, which will carry on the life
and legacy of her assassinated husband. For that we owe Medgar a debt
of gratitude.
I am honored to stand here today, Mr. Speaker, and pay tribute and
honor to a man who so many of us are indebted to. After all, Medgar was
right: ``You can kill a man, but you can't kill an idea.''
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor America's most under-celebrated
martyr of the Civil Rights Movement, Medgar Wiley Evers. Born in
Decatur, MS, Medgar dedicated the 37 years of his life to the causes of
racial equality and equal opportunity. As a 15-year-old boy in Bolton,
MS, I recall one of Medgar's last televised speeches. He said:

Tonight the Negro plantation worker in the Delta knows from
his radio and television what happened today all over the
world. He knows what black people are doing and he knows what
white people are doing. He can see on the 6:00 o'clock news
screen the picture of a 3:00 o'clock bite by a police dog. He
knows about the new free nations in Africa and knows that a
Congo native can be a locomotive engineer, but in Jackson he
cannot even drive a garbage truck.
He sees a city over 150,000, of which 40% is Negro, in
which there is not a single Negro policeman or policewoman,
school crossing guard, fireman, clerk, stenographer or
supervisor employed in any city department or the Mayor's
office in other than menial capacities . . .
What then does the Negro want? He wants to get rid of
racial segregation in Mississippi life . . . The Negro
citizen wants to register and vote without special handicaps
imposed on him alone . . . The Negro Mississippian wants more
jobs above the menial level in stores where he spends his
money. He believes that new industries that have come to
Mississippi should employ him above the laboring category. He
wants the public schools and colleges desegregated so that
his children can receive the best education that Mississippi
has to offer.

40 Years Wasn't That Long Ago

Medgar spoke those words 40 years ago, just days before his
assassination. He described a time and place that many African-
Americans still know all-too-well. Medgar's legacy is one of
opportunity. He often spoke of political, economic and educational
opportunities. Today, we are faced with many of the same challenges.
While the poll tax and the literacy test are no more, the Voting Rights
Act--which was enacted 2 years after Medgar's assassination--is still
needed to protect the political interests of African-Americans and
other minorities. Mississippi still trumps the rights of her African-
American citizens by seizing their land in the name of economic
development, then kicking them out of the development. For the last 28
years, Mississippi resisted the efforts of her African-American
children to end discrimination at her colleges and universities.
Medgar's legacy tells us to embrace the opportunity to make racial
equality a reality.
Today, I encourage young people to continue the fight Medgar so
bravely began. Medgar Evers is proof that sometimes the good die young.
So, the least we can do is to live our lives in such a way that his
dying will not have been in vain.
I want to commend Myrlie Evers-Williams and the Medgar Evers
Institute for carrying Medgar's torch. As advocates for change, we
understand that June 12, 1963, signaled the start of a new chapter in
Mississippi and American history. I am proud to say that today,
Congress will recognize the enormous contribution Medgar and Myrlie
have made and continue to make to, not just Black history, but American
history. Their tireless dedication to the disenfranchised is nothing
less than admirable. No Mississippian did more to empower the
disenfranchised than Medgar Evers.
For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude. I am honored to stand
here today and honor the man to whom so many of us are indebted. After
all, Medgar was right--``You can kill a man, but you can't kill an
idea.''
Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, how much time is remaining on our side?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter) has 7
minutes remaining, and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) has 6
minutes remaining.
Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to yield the balance
of my time to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Pickering), for the
purposes of control.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from
Mississippi will control the time.
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume to commend the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Pickering) and
the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson) for introducing this
legislation. I also want to commend the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Carter) and say what a pleasure it has been to work with him this
afternoon. I appreciated his comments and the pleasure of having the
opportunity to work with him.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to yield the balance of my time
to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson) to close out for our
side.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from
Mississippi will control the time.
There was no objection.
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Today, we have celebrated, in some respects, the 40th anniversary of
the assassination of Medgar Wiley Evers who, in his lifetime, was
misunderstood by a number of Americans.

{time} 1545

But here we are 40 years from that date on the floor of Congress,
many people watching us who probably had not been afforded the right to
vote when he was assassinated, but this is the majesty and honor of
this country that we serve in that, believe it or not, that hands who
pick elected officials who used to pick cotton can now pick Members of
Congress. It is in that spirit that we offer this resolution not only
for Medgar Wiley Evers, but also for his widow, Myrlie Evers, who has
carried on his life and legacy, his spirit and his enthusiasm for
making this country a better place.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. I yield to the gentlewoman from the
District of Columbia.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I want to simply say that perhaps the
greatest monument to Medgar Wiley Evers would be to see the gentleman
from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson) on this floor. The notion in 1963 that
there could be an African American in the Congress of the United States
from the State of Mississippi was very far removed from where we were.
We were literally trying to get a cup of coffee and trying to teach
people how to respond to the people at the voter registration place
just to get the right to vote.
The gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson) is the first African
American to be elected from the State since Reconstruction. In his own
right, he is an historic figure and one that people who love freedom
around the country are proud of, precisely because of the reputation of
Mississippi. That is Mississippi before. The gentleman from California
(Mr. Thompson) represents Mississippi after. This is a State where a
third of the voters are African Americans, more voters are African
Americans than in any other State, and one might expect that there
would be more than one African American in Congress, and yet when the
gentleman pressed through to become the first in the 20th century, it
was a real landmark. Therefore, it seems to me it is appropriate that
he would have made it back from the cemetery where Medgar Wiley Evers'
life was commemorated to have this moment on the floor, which is
perhaps the moment, the moment when the gentleman from Mississippi

[[Page H5376]]

rushed in to make sure he could speak on the floor of the House of
Representatives.
If Medgar Wiley Evers lived for any moment, it is for this moment.
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the
gentlewoman's comments.
Mr. Speaker, it was a different day. It is a date that if Medgar
Wiley Evers were here, he would be very proud to see debate on this
floor, to see individuals from all walks of life representing people
here. This is what democracy is all about. I appreciate all that has
been said. It is in this spirit that we move forward from this day, not
just in my State, but in this country to make it indeed a better place.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr.
Thompson) for his leadership on the resolution today, for asking me to
join with him, as we at the Arlington Cemetery joined together today
not only with the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), but
Senator Cochran, who led this resolution in the Senate last week, and
Senator Lott, who was present at the cemetery today, shows that not
only does an idea live on, but the example of courage and also the
attitude of wanting not only to love all people, to find a way that not
only did we demand the equality and the freedom that God gives us, but
then we find a way to work together and come together. I think the
message from Myrlie Evers today and from the other speakers, from the
gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson), is in the best sense not only
the best example from Mississippi, but one of the best examples for our
Nation as we try to heal the wounds and reconcile and work together,
and to continue the work and the commitment of equal opportunity for
all of our people and all of our citizens.
I am proud to represent the home of Edgar Evers in east central
Mississippi, Newton County and Decatur. Last week, Mississippians from
all over the State joined to celebrate his birthplace and to
commemorate his life and his death 40 years ago, but it was in one of
the regions that some of the most violent and hateful struggles, and
now 40 years later, all races, all backgrounds, all political parties
coming to pay tribute to Medgar Wiley Evers and his family. It is a
tribute and example of what our Nation has become and what our State
has become and is becoming, but it reminds us that we still have much
to do, and that the commitment of Medgar Evers who has harassed,
intimidated, beaten and who was eventually killed, that that example,
that life lived, makes us all recommit and renew and hope for the great
idea, the great ideal and the redemption and the potential and the
promise of this country.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson)
for his leadership on this issue, and thank all of the Evers family for
what they have meant to our home State and to our Nation.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to
offer my thoughts on H. Con. Res. 220, a resolution commending Medgar
Wiley Evers and his widow, Myrlie Evers-Williams, for their lives and
accomplishments.
I strongly support this resolution to commend Medgar Evers and his
widow, Myrlie Evers-Williams, who were true heroes in their fight for
justice, peace, and civil rights.
Medgar and Myrlie set up the first NAACP office in Mississippi, and
fought tirelessly to desegregate local businesses and schools. They
advocated boycotts of businesses that discriminated against blacks,
fought for the enforcement of Brown vs. Board of Education, and helped
James Meredith gain admittance to the University of Mississippi. Their
efforts made not only Mississippi a better place, made America a better
place.
On June 12, 1963, Medgar Evers made the ultimate sacrifice for his
beliefs--he was shot in the back and killed. Myrlie later wrote about
their struggles and their life together in a book entitled ``For us,
the Living'', which I read as a young man. Her story of how humble and
decent people fought hard to make a real difference in the lives of
millions inspired me.
I regret that I cannot be here in person to vote on this important
resolution, but as we recognize the 40th anniversary of Medgar Evers'
assassination and commend him and his widow, the reason why I'm not
able to vote is a particularly special one. One June 11, my wife Sara
and I welcomed a son into the world, whom we proudly named Jack Evers
Smith.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solidarity
with my congressional colleagues to honor the enduring legacy of Medgar
Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams for their lives of service and
commitment to racial equality.
Medgar Wiley Evers, was born on July 2, 1925 in Decatur, Mississippi.
In 1943, Mr. Evers left high school early and joined the U.S. Army to
faithfully serve his country during WWII. After completing his military
duties, Mr. Evers completed his high school education and enrolled at
Alcorn College in Mississippi. It was here, at Alcorn College, that he
met his future wife Myrlie Beasley in 1950. The following year, on
December 24, 1951, the two were married.

After completing his undergraduate education Evers and his wife moved
to Mound Bayou, Mississippi where they both became deeply involved in
the unfolding civil rights era. During his time in Mound Bayou, Evers
helped to establish local chapters of the NAACP throughout the Delta
and organize boycotts of local gas stations that refused to allow
blacks access to their restroom facilities. In 1954, the legendary
ruling of Brown vs. Board of Education was passed deeming school
segregation of any form legally unconstitutional. Yet despite this
groundbreaking legal victory, efforts to actualize the legislation by
means of school integration proved to be difficult at best. Mr. Evers
applied to and was subsequently denied admission to the University of
Mississippi Law School. And while his efforts to integrate the state's
oldest public university were constantly ridiculed and criticized by
traditionalists, Evers's willingness to fight the racial injustices of
the time attracted the attention of many, including the national office
of the NAACP.
Mr. Evers was ultimately appointed as the first Field Secretary for
the NAACP; Myrlie Evers was his assistant. With her by his side, Medgar
Evers worked diligently to register voters in Mississippi. His desire
to encourage and promote the political empowerment of African-Americans
throughout the south made him the target of violent threats against his
life. However, despite the vicious verbal attacks against him, Evers
and his wife continued with dedication and courage. They organized
rallies and educated the public about the injustices of racial
discrimination and the inequality that continued to exist in the public
school system. His desire for quality education for all children even
led him to file suit against the Jackson, Mississippi public school
system. From there, Mr. Evers proceeded to organize college students,
coordinate protest marches, organize boycotts of businesses in Jackson,
arrange student sit-ins, and challenge the segregated bus system.
Throughout his life, Mr. Evers maintained that ``violence is not the
way.'' However even he was not able to avoid the violence that racial
hatred produces. On June 12, 1963, Medgar Evers was shot and killed by
an assassin's bullet in the driveway of his home in Jackson,
Mississippi.
Myrlie Evers was known to say that ``you can kill a man, but you
can't kill an idea.'' In the years after her husband's assassination,
Myrlie Evers dedicated herself to the preservation of her husband's
memory by promoting those same ideas for which he ultimately gave his
life. Even after remarrying, Mrs. Evers is often remembered for the
diligent and often lonely battle she waged to bring Medgar Evers's
killer to justice. Two trials resulting in two hung juries allowed the
accused gunman to walk free. It was in 1994 that Byron De La Beckwith
was brought to trial for yet a third time and was ultimately found
guilty of the murder of Medgar Evers, more than 30 years after the
crime was committed. This was the moment for which she had hoped and
prayed, and now she could peacefully move on with the next chapter of
her life.
On Feb 18, 1995, Myrlie-Evers Williams became the first woman elected
to chair the National Board of Directors of the NAACP, a position that
she held until 1998. In 1999, she published her memoirs, entitled
``Watch Me Fly: What I Learned on the Way To Becoming the Woman I Was
Meant To Be'', which chronicles her journey from being the wife of a
civil rights activist to becoming an acclaimed community leader in her
own right. Having lived some of the most difficult times in her life in
the face of public scrutiny, Myrlie Evers-Williams has accepted the
fate that has been handed to her. She says: ``I have reached a point in
my life where I understand the pain and the challenges; and my attitude
is one of standing up with open arms to meet them all.''
The contributions made by both Medgar Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams
to our society are immeasurable. Their tireless efforts to advocate for
civil rights during a time when our Nation failed to enforce the
fundamental principles of freedom, equality, and justice for all
citizens, speaks to the enormous impact these

[[Page H5377]]

two individuals have had on our society. It is in this vein that I
celebrate the life, legacy, and collective spirit of Medgar Evers and
Myrlie Evers-Williams.
I would like to thank Representative Thompson for sponsoring this
resolution and I wholeheartedly support H. Con. Res. 220.
Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, the names Medgar and Myrlie Evers have been
well known to me as a Mississippian since me youth. And there is no
mistaking that the Mississippi of my youth was far different from
today. Today's tribute to these two outstanding civil rights leaders
provides an opportunity to look at the progress our State and our
Nation have made in pursuit of equality, racial harmony, and
reconciliation.
Medgar Evers was a man of principle who was not afraid to stand up
for his convictions during a difficult time in our history. Myrlie
Evers embodies the virtues of perseverance, faith, and belief in
justice. Their legacy is one of courage and commitment to bring social
change to Mississippi and to the Nation.
The impact Medgar Evers had on voting registration, black
representation, and social justice is significant and lasting.
Likewise, the effect Myrlie Evers-Williams has had as a national leader
for all African Americans is a legacy to be cherished.
An on-line search for ``Medgar Evers'' returns 29,600 sites. Among
them are ``Sergeant, U.S. Army''; ``Encyclopedia Britannica Guide to
Black History''; ``The Writings of Medgar Evers''; and ``Medgar Evers
College''. From the shores of Normandy as a World War II veteran to the
back roads of the Mississippi Delta to the streets of New York City,
Medgar Evers made a lasting impact.
Many people know the story of Medgar Evers and his wife Myrlie from
the acclaimed movie, ``The Ghosts of Mississippi''. They were leaders
throughout their lives and determined to pursue a better life for
African Americans in a nonviolent manner. It is ironic that the man who
so often said, ``Violence is not the way,'' would die a violent death
outside his home in Jackson. As Medgar said before his death, ``Freedom
has never been free . . . I love my children and I love my wife with
all my heart, and I would die, die gladly, if that would make a better
life for them.''
Even in death, Evers proved to be one of the most influential civil
rights activists ever. His death led to John F. Kennedy's final push
for a civil rights bill to ban segregation. It also sparked several
marches in honor of Evers and in protest of the injustices of the
South.
Hours after his death, his wife Myrlie addressed a crowd and said,
``Nothing can bring Medgar back, but the cause can live on.'' How
prophetic she was that night. She went on to become the Chair of the
NAACP, and she has created the Medgar Evers Institute, which is helping
to continue fostering the principles by which he lived and died.
Medgar Evers would be proud of the progress we have made in our
native State over these past 40 years. We celebrate his legacy today by
acknowledging that more work remains to be done and resolving to join
together to continue his vision of achieving racial harmony and equal
opportunity for all.
Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 220 and
to pay tribute to the life and works of Medgar Wiley Evers.
Medgar Evers was a true pioneer in the fight for racial justice in
Mississippi.
Organizing for the NAACP meant defying the political establishment,
founded on white supremacy. It was an act of supreme courage and
frankly of patriotism: Medger Evers fought to make this country live up
to its own ideals. He became the first known African-American person to
apply for admission to the University of Mississippi Law School, and
was denied admission.
As a result of that denial, Medgar Evers contacted the NAACP to take
legal action, and found himself centered in a movement that he felt
compelled to advance. As a result of this new commitment, Medgar Evers
was offered a position as the Mississippi Field Secretary for the
NAACP.
Mr. Evers established local chapters of the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People throughout the Delta region in order
to change the social, political, and economic condition of African
Americans.
Placing his life and family in jeopardy, he consistently put the
movement for equality above his own safety and security.
While organizing students from Tougaloo and Campbell Colleges,
leading protest marches for equal and quality education, organizing
boycotts of Jackson businesses and sit-ins, and challenging segregated
bus seating he was targeted by racist police and community groups,
arrested beaten, and even jailed.
The violence against Medgar Evers climaxed on June 12, 1963, when he
was shot and killed in front of his own home, dying in front of his own
wife and children. Although the racist factions in the Deep South
thought they had silenced the great hero and his message; this tragedy
catapulted Myrlie Evers into the face of Southern institutionalized
racism as she fought for 31 years to have Medgar Ever's killer, Byron
De La Beckwith, brought to justice. He was convicted in 1994.
We stand and pledge allegiance that our country will strive to
someday provide liberty and justice for all people. The murder of
Medgar Evers and the pursuit of justice exemplifies this ongoing
struggle and reminds us that the United States has a long, and dark
past of racism that we must confront and continue to remedy with racial
healing and understanding, with affirmative action, equal opportunity,
and access to jobs and education.
Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 220, a
resolution commending the life and accomplishments of Medgar Evers and
his widow, Myrlie Evers-Williams.
History sometimes overlooks great Americans and forgets amazing
accomplishments. The actions of Medgar Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams
are too great, too significant to be forgotten. Their accomplishments
and sacrifices should not only be footnotes. Their lives should be
celebrated and honored.
H. Con. Res. 220 lets America remember the names of these civil
rights heroes. Medgar Evers was field secretary of the Mississippi
State NAACP and after Medgar's death Myrlie Evers-Williams became chair
of the board of directors of the NAACP. They fought for civil rights.
They fought for human rights. They fought for someone like me to be
considered equal in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of my fellow
Americans.
They set up economic boycotts of Jackson, Mississippi businesses that
discriminated against African Americans. They worked for school
desegregation, helping James Meredith become the first black student at
the white-only University of Mississippi. Perhaps most importantly,
they fought to secure voting rights for African Americans in the South.
Medgar Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams suffered greatly for their
courage. They endured shouts, jeers, and threats of violence. And then
on June 12, 1963, Medgar Evers was assassinated by white supremacists.
Unfortunately, it wasn't until after his death that Medgar Evers won
the NAACP's prestigious Springarn Medal in 1963. And it wasn't until
1970 that Medgar Evers College was founded as a senior college of the
City University of New York.
But today we will start singing his praise. And we will not stop.
Today, we can place Medgar Evers and his widow Myrlie Evers-Williams on
the list of civil rights heroes. Their names should be spoken in line
with Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. People will know their stories.
Know their deeds. And know their accomplishments.
It is time. It is time to remember and never forget these two great
civil rights heroes. These two great Americans.
Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor two of the Nation's
most outstanding civil rights leaders, Medgar Evers and Mrylie Evers-
Williams, on the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Medger Evers.
During the 1950s and 1960s, at the height of the civil rights movement,
Evers battled racial injustice in his home state of Mississippi by
becoming a prominent member of the NACCP in Jackson, Mississippi. He
inspired others to utilize peaceful methods of protest to speak out
against racial inequality through boycotts, sit-ins, and
demonstrations. Myrlie Evers-Williams stood by her husband in the fight
for civil rights by serving as his partner in organizing public
demonstrations and his secretary when he became Mississippi's first
field secretary for the NAACP. After his assassination, she emerged as
a prominent figure in the realm of public service by serving on the Los
Angeles Board of Public Works and eventually becoming the chairwoman of
the NACCP. It is for these reasons, that I wish to acknowledge these
two accomplished individuals. As I provide a short biographical sketch
of Medgar Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams, I encourage you to read
Myrlie Evers-Williams' published memoirs to better understand the
amazing accomplishments of these two individuals.
Medgar Wiley Evers, the son of James and Jessie, was born in Decatur,
Mississippi on July 2, 1925. Evers put his high school education on
hold to serve his country in the Battle of Normandy during World War
II. Once he returned the completed high school and then earned a
bachelor's degree in business administration from Alcorn Agricultural
and Mechanical College where he met Myrlie Beasley from Vicksburg,
Mississippi who he later married on December 24, 1951. He gained
recognition in Who's Who in American Colleges for his active
participation in his college's choir, debate team, football and track
teams and his service to the college's newspaper and student government
offices. While he worked as an insurance salesman in Mound Bayou,
Mississippi he began to establish small chapters of the NAACP in the
Mississippi Delta region. During that time he also began coordinating
boycotts of gas stations that prohibited African-Americans from using
their bathrooms. When segregation in public schools was ruled
unconstitutional with the

[[Page H5378]]

Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka Supreme Court decision, Evers
decided to apply to the University of Mississippi Law School being the
first African-American to do so. He was denied admission thus his
desire to fight racial injustice was further ignited. His rejection
from the law school grabbed the attention of the NAACP's national
office. Later that year, he was named the NACCP's first field secretary
for Mississippi. He and his wife then moved to Jackson, Mississippi to
establish the Jackson office of the NAACP. Because he was denied
admission to the University's law school, he played an instrumental
role in the admission of another African-American man James Meredith.
In addition to encouraging and organizing African-American communities
in Mississippi to participate in public demonstrations, he also urged
them to take advantage of their voting rights because of his own voting
experience in which he tried to vote in Decatur in 1946, but was turned
away by white supremacists. Disregarding the numerous threats he
received, Evers continued to publicly speak out against racial
inequality, boycott discriminatory merchants, and encourage African-
American communities in Mississippi to do the same until he was
assassinated in his driveway on June 12, 1963. His brother Charles
carried on his work with the NAACP after his death. In 1970, a senior
college, part of the City University of New York, was named in his
honor. Medgar Evers College is located in Crown Heights in Brooklyn,
New York.

The tragic death of her husband led Myrlie Evers-Williams to move her
family to California where she attended Pomona College. After earning
her bachelor's degree in sociology, she began her career in public
service as assistant director of planning and development for the
Claremont College system. She later moved to Los Angeles to begin a job
as the consumer affairs director for the Atlantic Richfield Company and
in 1975 she married Walter Williams. In 1988, she became the first
African-American woman to serve on the Los Angeles Board of Public
Works when she was appointed by mayor Tom Bradley. During the early
1990s she pressured Mississippi prosecutors to reopen the case on her
first husband's assassination. She eventually succeeded and finally in
1994, Medgar Evers's killer was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to
life in prison. One year later, she was appointed the first female
chair of the NAACP. Sadly, she also lost her second husband to prostate
cancer that year. In 1999, her autobiography entitled, Watch Me Fly:
What I Learned on the Way To Becoming the Woman I Was Meant To Be, was
published. Her autobiography focuses on her life as the wife of a civil
rights activist and a community leader.
Medgar Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams have both made their mark in
American history and will always be known for their pioneering efforts
in American society.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con.
Res. 220 that honors the lives and accomplishments of civil rights
leaders Medgar Wiley Evers and his widow, Myrile Evers-Williams. I want
to thank Congressman Bennie Thompson for introducing and bringing this
meaningful resolution to the floor.
Although their lives and contribution cannot be simply summarized in
a few paragraphs, I want to nevertheless pay tribute to these two great
civil rights leaders.
As a State senator from California representing parts of Los Angeles,
I had the pleasure of working with Myrlie Evers-Williams during her
tenure as a member of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works. As the
first African American women on the Board, Myrlie oversaw the
management of nearly $1 billion in city budget and a staff of 5,000
employees.
However, my admiration of Myrlie's work started over 50 years ago,
when she partnered with her husband, Medgar Evers, to advance racial
justice in the hostile environment of the 1950s. Medgar had been one of
the early principle leaders of the civil rights movement, boldly
registering to vote and applying for admission to the University of
Mississippi Law School in the early 1950s. In 1954 Medgar became the
Mississippi State field secretary for the NAACP and, together with
Myrlie, they organized voter registration drives and civil rights
demonstrations.
As visible leaders of the movement, the Evers became high-profile
targets of terrorist acts of pro-segregationists. Despite the threats,
the Evers' persisted with courage and the determination to educate the
public. However, On June 11, 1963, Medgar Evers was fatally shot in
front of his house, and hung juries eventually freed the killer.
Myrlie began creating her own legacy in carrying on the critical work
left by Medgar. She emerged in the 1980s and 90s as a political leader
and an activist, founding the National Women's Political Caucus,
running for Congress, and serving on the board of Public Works in Los
Angeles. In 1995, she became the first woman to chair the 64-member
Board of Directors of the NAACP.
During her decades of activism, Myrlie never forgot the death of her
husband. In the early 1990s she convinced Mississippi prosecutors to
reopen Medgar Evers' murder case and eventually led to the conviction
and life imprisonment of Medgar's killer in 1994--31 years after his
murder.
The life of Myrlie Evers-Williams has been nothing short of
extraordinary. In her autobiography, ``Watch Me Fly: What I learned on
the way to Becoming the Women I was Meant to Be'', Myrlie stated that
``for thirty years, my focus had not wavered. Like a tree deeply rooted
on the bank of a rushing river, I had not moved.'' It is this
persistence, her unwavering will to fight for equality, her
determination and dedication for social justice, that has moved me,
moved this legislative body, and moved the course of this entire
nation.
I salute you, Myrlie and Medgar, for all you have done, for fighting
the good fight.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res.
220.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.

____________________