Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-Louisiana), the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, testified against Attorney General nominee Jeff Sessions. More memorable than what Richmond said during was his testimony was how he began his testimony.
The hearing was running late and Richmond was last of a series of speakers. Here’s how Richmond introduced his remarks, according to The Hayride, a Louisiana political blog.
“First, I want to express my concerns about being made to testify at the very end of the witness panels. To have a Senator, a House member, and a living civil rights legend testify at the end of all of this is the equivalent of being made to go to the back of the bus. it is a petty strategy and the record should reflect my consternation at the unprecedented process that brought us here. my record on equality speaks for itself, and i don’t mind being last, but to have a living legend like John Lewis handled in such a fashion is beyond the pale and the message sent by this process is duely noted by me and the 49 members of the congressional black caucus and the 78 million Americans we represent and the over 17 million African-Americans that we represent.”
Originally published by American Action News.
