55 years ago today, 600 civil rights activists began marching from Selma to Montgomery to protest racialized disenfranchisement & violence. They were met with blows of billy clubs from state troopers & had dogs set on them—now-Congressman John Lewis had his skull cracked open. 1/ 
By the next day, this country & the entire world saw on the news what these marchers had done in the name of equality & justice.
That day is known as Bloody Sunday—& the courage of those protesters compelled action & inspired change. Later that summer the VRA became law. 2/
That day is known as Bloody Sunday—& the courage of those protesters compelled action & inspired change. Later that summer the VRA became law. 2/
Those protesters forever changed the course of our history—and the course of my own life. 3/
Because there was a young lawyer named Arthur Lessman who had been sitting at home this day 55 years ago & saw what happened to those protesters on the news. His conscience was awakened by their courage, so he decided to get involved in his own community in New Jersey. 4/
He contacted a local fair housing group helping Black families fight housing discrimination.
He partnered with the head of that organization, a young woman named Ms. Lee Porter, who to this day, is still the head of the Fair Housing Council today at the age of 93. 5/
He partnered with the head of that organization, a young woman named Ms. Lee Porter, who to this day, is still the head of the Fair Housing Council today at the age of 93. 5/
Together, they took on the case of a young Black couple who 51 years ago this Spring were being discriminated against trying to buy a home in suburban New Jersey – my parents, Cary and Carolyn Booker. 6/
I’m here today because of the brave & heroic activists on that bridge in Alabama 55 years ago, people who saw injustice & refused to remain silent.
People who saw a moral challenge & acted with moral clarity and courage. 7/
People who saw a moral challenge & acted with moral clarity and courage. 7/
We’re all here today because of the activists who came before us—and we can’t pay back their sacrifice and struggle. We can only pay it forward.
