Brady Statement on 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Gregory Abbott
Jun 24, 2014 Issues: Elections

June 24, 2014 (Washington, D.C.) Today, Congress commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with a ceremony in the Rotunda of the Capitol. Committee on House Administration Ranking Member, Robert A. Brady (D-PA) made the following statement:

 

“On this day, fifty years ago, our nation came a step closer to achieving the central idea that our great nation was founded on, the idea that all men and women are created equal. Passing the Civil Rights Act was an incredibly difficult achievement, marked by sacrifice and struggle. It is also a shining example of how this institution can rise to the occasion, cross partisan divides, and take action on the important and difficult issues.

Today, we honored this historic milestone with a commemoration in the Rotunda. While we should rightfully celebrate how far we have come, we must not lose focus on how far we have to go. The fight for true equality in America did not end with the passage of the Civil Rights Act. It is a fight that is ongoing, and one that requires our constant vigilance.

In the last year alone, we’ve seen a significant dismantling of our civil right protections. Tomorrow will mark the one year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision to gut the Voting Rights Act in Shelby v. Holder. As a result, we’ve witnessed several states immediately adopt policies that read as if they were written in the Jim Crow era.

I call on my colleagues to commemorate this anniversary by renewing our efforts to protect the civil rights of all Americans. It is time for Congress to put differences aside and protect the fundamental rights of all of our citizens. It is time for us to amend the Voting Rights Act and prevent any further deterioration of the gains made in the Civil Rights Movement.”

 

Rep. Brady has been a leading advocate in the fight for voter rights and ensuring that all eligible voters have full and unimpeded access to the ballot box. He has worked closely with Democratic leadership on bolstering the Voting Rights Act, getting secret money out of politics, and assisting our overseas and military voters. As the leading Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, he has been a strong advocate for clean and fair elections.