Washington, D.C. – Ahead of the 100th anniversary of the birthday of the late Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) spoke on the House Floor to join the City of Birmingham in honoring one of its most prominent civil rights leaders. Tomorrow, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin will proclaim it “Fred Shuttlesworth Day” in Birmingham to coincide with his March 18 birthday.

A video recording of Sewell’s remarks can be accessed and downloaded here. Her remarks are transcribed below.

Rep. Sewell: Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a true Civil Rights pioneer, Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, ahead of what would have been his 100th birthday on Friday, March 18th.

Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth was a civil rights activist who led the fight against segregation and other forms of discrimination as a minister in Birmingham, Alabama. He was co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, initiated and was instrumental in the 1963 Birmingham Campaign, also known as Project C for Confrontation, to desegregate the City of Birmingham.

Regarded as one of “the most courageous civil rights fighters in the South" by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rev. Shuttlesworth was a fearless freedom fighter who always stood up for what was right.

Shuttlesworth participated in the sit-ins against segregated lunch counters in 1960 and took part in the organization and completion of the Freedom Rides in 1961.

Throughout his amazing career, despite experiencing violent intimidation and numerous attempts on his life, Rev. Shuttlesworth remained vigilant in his fight for Civil Rights. The noted pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church is recognized as the key leader and organizer of the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, Alabama.

In recognition of his longstanding dedication, President Clinton awarded Rev. Shuttlesworth the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2001. Shortly after, in 2008, the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport was named in his honor. 

Although Shuttlesworth died at the age of 89 on October 5, 2011, he adds a long list of accomplishments, and to that the City of Birmingham is designating this Friday, March 18th as ‘Rev. Shuttlesworth Day” in honor of the 100th anniversary of his birthday.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and the City of Birmingham to pay tribute to the extraordinary life and legacy of Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth as we designate March 18th as “Rev. Shuttlesworth Day.”