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Home , Benjamin Hooks, Coretta Scott King, Dorothy Height, Edmund Pettus Bridge, Fannie Lou Hamer

July 27 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2006

Remarks on Signing the , , and Coretta Scott Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 July 27, 2006

Thank you. Good morning. Welcome. ter] And the mayor of Selma, , Thanks for being here on this special day. James Perkins, is with us. Mr. Mayor, Please be seated. America began with a proud you’re here. Welcome, sir. declaration that all men are created equal. The right of ordinary men and women This declaration marked a tremendous ad- to determine their own political future lies vance in the story of freedom, yet it also at the heart of the American experiment, contained a contradiction: Some of the and it is a right that has been won by same men who signed their names to this the sacrifice of patriots. The Declaration self-evident truth owned other men as of Independence was born on the stand property. By reauthorizing this act, Con- for liberty taken at Lexington and Concord. gress has reaffirmed its belief that all men The amendments to our Constitution that are created equal, its belief that the new outlawed slavery and guaranteed the right founding started by the signing of the bill to vote came at the price of a terrible civil by President Johnson is worthy of our great . Nation to continue. The Voting Rights Act that broke the I’m proud to be here with our Attorney segregationist lock on the ballot box rose General, members of my Cabinet, leaders from the courage shown on a Selma bridge of the Senate and House of one Sunday afternoon in of 1965. Representatives. I thank the bill sponsors. On that day, African Americans, including I thank the members of the Judiciary Com- a Member of the , mittee. I appreciate so very much rep- , marched across the Edmund resentatives of the Hamer family who have Pettus Bridge in a protest intended to high- joined us, representatives of the Rosa and light the unfair practices that kept them Raymond Parks Institute who have joined off the voter rolls. us, and members of the King family, in The brutal response showed America particular Reverend and Mar- why a march was necessary. When the tin Luther King. Thank you all for coming. marchers reached the far side of the bridge, I’m honored to be here with civil rights they were met by State troopers and civil- leaders like Dr. , Julian ian posse bearing billy clubs and whips, Bond, the chairman of the NAACP. Bruce weapons they did not hesitate to use. The Gordon—thank you, Bruce. Reverend Low- images of policemen using night sticks on ery—it’s good to see you again, sir—fortu- peaceful protesters were carried on tele- nately, I got the mike this time. [Laughter] vision screens across the country, and they I’m proud to be here with Marc Morial. stung the conscience of a slumbering Amer- Thanks for coming, Marc. Juanita ica. Abernathy is with us today. — One week after Selma, President Lyndon good to see you, Jesse. , Dr. Johnson took to the airwaves to announce and Frances are with us. that he planned to submit legislation that A lot of other folks who care deeply about would bring African Americans into the this issue, we welcome you here. civic life of our Nation. Five months after It’s good to welcome the mayor. Mr. Selma, he signed the Voting Rights Act into Mayor, good to see you. Thanks for com- law in the rotunda of our Nation’s Capitol. ing—Tony Williams. Everything is fine in In a little more than a year after Selma, the neighborhood; I appreciate it. [Laugh- a newly enfranchised black community used

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their power at the ballot box to help defeat Today we renew a bill that helped bring the sheriff who had sent men with whips a community on the margins into the life and clubs to the Bridge of American democracy. My administration on that bloody Sunday. will vigorously enforce the provisions of this For some parts of our country, the Vot- law, and we will defend it in court. This ing Rights Act marked the first appearance legislation is named in honor of three he- of African Americans on the voting rolls roes of American history who devoted their since Reconstruction. And in the primaries lives to the struggle of civil rights: Fannie and elections that followed the signing of Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott this act, many African Americans pulled the King. And in honor of their memory and voting lever for the first time in their lives. their contributions to the cause of freedom, Eighty-one-year-old Willie Bolden was I am proud to sign the Voting Rights Act the grandson of slaves, and in the spring Reauthorization and Amendments Act of of 1966, he cast his first ballot in Alabama’s 2006. Democratic primary. He told a reporter, ‘‘It felt good to me. It made me think I NOTE: The President spoke at 9:34 a.m. on was sort of somebody.’’ In the America the South Lawn at the . In his promised by our Founders, every citizen remarks, he referred to Bruce S. Gordon, is a somebody, and every generation has president and chief executive officer, Na- a responsibility to add its own chapter to tional Association for the Advancement of the unfolding story of freedom. Colored People (NAACP); civil rights leader In four decades since the Voting Rights Rev. Joseph E. Lowery; Marc H. Morial, Act was first passed, we’ve made progress president and chief executive officer, Na- toward equality, yet the work for a more tional Urban League; Juanita Abernathy, wife perfect union is never ending. We’ll con- of deceased civil rights leader Rev. Ralph D. tinue to build on the legal equality won Abernathy; civil rights leader Rev. Jesse L. by the to help ensure Jackson, Sr., founder and president, Rain- that every person enjoys the opportunity bow/PUSH Coalition; 2004 Democratic that this great land of liberty offers. And Presidential candidate Rev. Alfred C. that means a decent education and a good Sharpton, Jr.; Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks, Na- school for every child, a chance to own tional Civil Rights Museum board chairman, their own home or business, and the hope and his wife, Frances; and Mayor Anthony that comes from knowing that you can rise A. Williams of Washington, DC. H.R. 9, ap- in our society by hard work and God-given proved July 27, was assigned Public Law No. talents. 109–246.

Remarks Following Discussions With President Traian Basescu of Romania and an Exchange With Reporters July 27 2006

President Bush. The Prime Minister and President Bush. The President and I are I will take a couple of questions a side friends. Romania and the United States are after opening statements—Mr. President, friends, and we’re allies. And as such, we’ve excuse me. Welcome. had an in-depth discussion about a variety President Basescu. Thank you.

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