“60 years ago today, our nation took a monumental step toward realizing the fundamental promise of equality and justice for all. With the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, America turned the page on generations of discrimination and legal segregation and began a new chapter of hope and opportunity.

“We in Alabama’s 7th Congressional District know that passage of the Civil Rights Act didn’t come without a price. Today, we honor the countless men and women who bravely challenged the status quo and demanded that America live up to its highest ideals. Their sacrifices paved the way for so many of the rights and freedoms we enjoy today, and we owe them an enormous debt of gratitude.

“At a time when many seek to erase our progress, we as Americans must remain vigilant. The gutting of the Voting Rights Act by the Supreme Court is a reminder that our gains from the Civil Rights Movement are only as durable as our willingness to fight for them. The arc of the moral universe may bend toward justice, but it doesn’t bend by itself. It is up to each of us to protect the progress made and work to advance it.”

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