“Jack Johnson was a legendary competitor who defined an era of American boxing and raised the bar for all American athletics,” said Senator Reid. “Johnson’s memory was unjustly tarnished by a racially-motivated criminal conviction, and it is now time to recast his legacy. I am pleased to work with my colleagues in both the Senate and House to formally restore Johnson’s name to the full stature and dignity he deserves.”

“Since 2004, Congressman King and I have fought for a posthumous pardon of Jack Johnson, the world’s first African-American heavyweight champion, for his racially motivated conviction,” said Senator McCain. “In past years, both chambers of Congress unanimously passed this resolution, but unfortunately, it still awaits executive action and no pardon has been issued. We can never completely right the wrong perpetrated against Jack Johnson during his lifetime, but this pardon is a small, meaningful step toward acknowledging his mistreatment before the law and celebrating his legacy of athletic greatness and historical significance.”

“Jack Johnson was one of the great African-American athletes. His skill and perseverance to get back up every time he was knocked down made him a champion in the eyes of the sports world and for those who, like him, pursued their dreams despite racial intolerance,” said Senator Cowan. “I’m proud to join Senator McCain and Representative King in their effort to restore the legacy he fought so hard to achieve.”

“Jack Johnson is a trailblazer and a legend, whose boxing career was cut short due to unjust laws and racial persecution,” said Congressman King. “I urge the Congress and the President to do the right thing and take the final step and grant his pardon. I am proud to stand with Senator McCain once again to introduce this legislation.”

Jack Johnson was born in Galveston, Texas on March 31, 1878 and in 1908, he became the first African American World Heavyweight Boxing Champion after defeating Tommy Burns in Australia – a title Johnson held until 1915. Prompted by his success in the boxing ring and his relationship with a Caucasian woman, Jack Johnson was wrongly convicted under the Mann Act when he brought the woman he was dating across state lines.

The intent of the Mann Act was to prevent human trafficking of women for the purpose of prostitution. However, a racially motivated 1913 conviction imprisoned Jack Johnson for a year. The conviction ruined his career and destroyed his reputation.

McCain and King, both life-long boxing fans, have been introducing legislation to pardon Jack Johnson since 2004.

“Because of DOMA, gay and lesbian married couples are denied more than 1,100 federal rights and benefits to which all other legally married couples are entitled; that is neither fair, nor right. Today, I filed an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court to make clear my belief that Section 3 of DOMA discriminates against gay and lesbian married couples and should be struck down as a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law.

“Since the enactment of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996, the attitudes of many Americans, including me, have changed significantly. When Congress enacted DOMA, no state had legalized same-sex marriage. Now, gay and lesbian couples can legally marry in nine states and the District of Columbia. This is progress in the truest sense of the word, and repealing DOMA is the next step we need to take towards providing true equality to all Americans under the law.”

“It is a sad day when we cannot pass a treaty that simply brings the world up to the American standard for protecting people with disabilities because the Republican party is in thrall to extremists and ideologues. The United States is seen as a leader around the world. Today, we had a chance to lead, and we failed because a small group of Republican senators fear the Tea Party more than they care about equality for people with disabilities.

“Today’s vote wasn’t about Republicans or Democrats. It was about standing up for our heroes – men and women who risked their lives on the battlefield for the United States of America. This treaty was about 57 million Americans who live with a disability. Republicans such as former President George H.W. Bush, Senator McCain and former Senator Bob Dole called on their Republican colleagues to support these Americans. I am saddened those Senators did not listen. Their arguments against the treaty had no basis in fact – the treaty does not change United States law. That is why I plan to bring this treaty up for a vote again in the next Congress. Our wounded veterans and millions more around the world deserve better.”

On April 14, 1945, a young Robert Dole lay gravely wounded in the mud of a war-torn Italian hillside, after shrapnel tore through his shoulder and spine.

Twenty-four years later, after years spent rebuilding his body and building a political career, the future Senate Majority Leader gave his maiden speech on the Senate floor.

Senator Bob Dole’s first floor speech was about the challenges faced each day – even in this, the richest of nations – by people just like him – people with disabilities.

He described the discrimination Americans with disabilities faced as, “Maybe not exclusion from the front of the bus, but perhaps from even climbing aboard it.”

And for the next 27 years of his Senate career – including 11 years as Majority Leader – and throughout his years in the private sector, Bob Dole would remain a vocal advocate for Americans with disabilities.

Since Senator Dole fought for passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, barriers have lifted, helping people with disabilities in this country live the full and productive lives they want and deserve.

There is no finer example of the extraordinary things ordinary Americans can achieve in spite of their disabilities than Bob Dole’s inspiring career.

The United States has been a leader in expanding disability rights across the globe. And U.S. law has been the gold standard for the rest of world.

But the United States must continue to lead by example. And we must do more to protect American citizens traveling, working and serving abroad.

The Disabilities Convention before the Senate today, a treaty already ratified by 125 nations, would advance those goals.

This convention would give us an opportunity to strengthen our leadership on disability rights around the world.

And it is another step towards ensuring all people with a disability – in any country – are treated with dignity and given the right to achieve their full potential.

Ratification of this treaty won’t cost taxpayers a dime.

It won’t require any changes to existing U.S. law.

It has the support of veterans groups and disability groups from around the country.

It has the strong backing of a bipartisan group of Senators and leading Republicans such as President George H.W. Bush, as well as Senator Dole.

And like passing the Americans with Disabilities Act, ratifying the treaty is the right thing to do.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “If you would lift me up you must be on higher ground.”

If the United States wishes to be a global example of the huge strides people with disabilities can make when barriers to success are removed, we must take the high ground.

I thank Senators Kerry, McCain, Durbin, Lugar, Barrasso, Coons, Tom Udall and Harkin for leading the way on this issue. With their help, I hope we will quickly ratify this treaty.

“I commend the Obama Administration and Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez for their decision to file a lawsuit against Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio. For many years, Sheriff Arpaio has been operating outside of our nation’s laws. The police are supposed to protect and serve our communities, not divide them or judge them based on their appearance or how they sound.

“No one should face discrimination based on the color of their skin, their accent or any other similar characteristics. The Administration is working hard to stop the scapegoating of immigrant and Latino communities by officials like Sheriff Arpaio, but the definitive way to end this is for Congress to fix our nation’s broken immigration system. I renew my call to my Republican colleagues to join us and enact comprehensive immigration reform.”

“My personal belief is that marriage is between a man and a woman. But in a civil society, I believe that people should be able to marry whomever they want, and it’s no business of mine if two men or two women want to get married. The idea that allowing two loving, committed people to marry would have any impact on my life, or on my family’s life, always struck me as absurd.

“In talking with my children and grandchildren, it has become clear to me they take marriage equality as a given. I have no doubt that their view will carry the future.

“I handled a fair amount of domestic relations work when I was a practicing lawyer, and it was all governed by state law. I believe that is the proper place for this issue to be decided as well.”

Forty-seven years ago today, a group of 600 freedom-loving men and women set out on a march from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, calling for an end to discrimination and violence against African Americans.

Among those peaceful protesters was Congressman John Lewis, a truly great civil rights leader and my good friend.

Only six blocks from the church where the march began, they were met at the Edmund Pettus Bridge by police dogs, fire hoses and billy clubs.

The terrible violence of that day – known as Bloody Sunday – was broadcast across the country.

March 1965 marked a turning point in the Civil Rights movement, as Americans cried out against the injustice and bloodshed they saw on television.

Later that month, more than 25,000 courageous souls finally completed the 12-mile march from Selma to Montgomery that began on Bloody Sunday.

And six months later President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Last year, I was privileged to lock arms with Congressman Lewis and Congressman Jim Clyburn, two men whom I admire deeply, as we reenacted the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

It was a humbling experience, and one I will never forget.

On this day, I think we should all pause to recognize that, that while we have come a long way together, we still have a long way to go to guarantee the civil rights of every American.

“Today we remember Dr. King, a great American leader who worked tirelessly for a better world and a just nation. He fought with all his might to change the status quo, to prove we could become a better people. We continue that fight today with his actions and beliefs deeply embedded into our minds.

“I applaud those in Nevada and around the country who are volunteering today to help their fellow citizens. I can think of no better way than through service to others to honor Dr. King, a man who measured people by their stance during ‘times of challenge and controversy,’ not when life is easy. By that standard, Nevadans and Americans across this country have stood strong and tall as they fight to keep their jobs, stay in their homes and weather the tough economic times that we’re slowly putting behind us.

“His message continues to resonate today as income gaps grow and injustices remain. Yet we continue marching ahead, knowing that only through persistence will we realize Dr. King’s dream of a becoming a greater people, and having a better nation and a finer world to live in.”

“I commend Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez and the Obama administration for their painstaking work investigating these allegations, which should be of great concern to all Americans who value due process and equal protection under the law. I am troubled by reports that Latino drivers are four to nine times more likely to be stopped by Sheriff Arpaio’s officers than non-Latino drivers, and that immigrants are being locked in solitary confinement on flimsy pretenses like failing to sign forms. Even more disturbing are the dozens of reports of sexual assault, often involving children, that allegedly went uninvestigated by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

“The best way to end the scapegoating of immigrant and Latino communities by officials like Sheriff Arpaio is for Congress to fix our nation’s broken immigration system. I renew my call to my Republican colleagues to join us in enacting legislation to secure our borders, hold unscrupulous employers accountable, and require those here illegally to register with the government, pay taxes and fines, learn English and go to the end of the line to earn legal immigration status.”

“Racial profiling has no place in our law enforcement,” Reid said. “Our law enforcement officials who put their lives on the line every day handle their jobs with professionalism, diligence, and fidelity to the rule of law. It’s imperative that they use their scarce resources for real law enforcement that targets those who engage in criminal activity, not one group of people based on their race, ethnicity, or national origin. I applaud Sen. Cardin for leading the way in this very important issue. I will continue working to build support for this crucial legislation while also working to create jobs and turn the economy around.”

The End Racial Profiling Act of 2011 would:

Prohibit racial profiling;
Mandate training on racial profiling issues;
Withhold federal law enforcement funding if local and state governments failed to adopt effective policies that prohibit racial profiling;
Provide grants for the development and implementation of best policing practices that discourage racial profiling; and
Require the Attorney General to report on ongoing discriminatory profiling practices

BACKGROUND:

Reid co-sponsored similar legislation in 2004 called the End Racial Profiling Act of 2004.

“Today our nation lost a man whose name was synonymous with courage and dedication. Despite beatings, arrests and even assassination attempts, Rev. Shuttlesworth knew giving up was not an option as he marched and demonstrated for equality in the Alabama of the 1960s. ‘Indomitable’ is how Dr. King rightfully described him.

“Because of Rev. Shuttleworth’s tenacity, and that of many other heroes, today millions of Americans of every background enjoy the rights and liberties our founding fathers envisioned. My thoughts, and those of a grateful nation, are with his family tonight.”

“For the last 21 years, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has brought greater equality to countless Nevadans and Americans across the country.  Through this landmark civil rights measure, we’ve removed barriers to employment, transportation, public services, telecommunications and public accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Not a single Nevadan nor American should be restricted from fully participating as members of their community, and the ADA gives individuals with disabilities greater opportunities, freedoms and access to perform basic tasks that many of us take for granted.

“While we’ve made great strides to ensure that the civil rights of all Americans are protected, there is still work to be done, and I remain steadfast in my commitment to further increasing access and preventing all forms of discrimination.”

“On June 19^th, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galvaston, Texas to free America’s last slaves and officially end a dark time in our nation’s history. Juneteenth Independence Day has been celebrated throughout the Southwest ever since. It is the day we celebrate the true birth of freedom for all Americans. But it is also a day when we must reflect on the history of injustice that preceded it.

“True progress takes time. The Emancipation Proclamation made slaves free men under the law, but it took two and a half years for slavery to truly end in America. And although many more years have passed since – years during which Jim Crow laws were overthrown, the Civil Rights Act was passed and the first African-American president was sworn into office – there is still work to be done.

“I am proud to stand by the many dedicated Nevadans, including Deborah Evans, who continue the fight for equality today. This year Deborah and a dedicated team of Civil Rights activists helped passed a law making Nevada the 38^th state to officially recognize the Juneteenth holiday. Thanks to heroes like her, the quest goes on to ensure that every American enjoys the same opportunities and freedoms – regardless of skin color, gender, income or place of birth.”

“The Brown vs. Board of Education decision was a major step toward education equality in America, and launched a Civil Rights movement that changed the face of our nation. But while the Brown decision changed the law of the land, it didn’t immediately change the reality of education inequality in America. That process continues today as we work to ensure every child in Nevada and across America has equal access to a world-class education regardless of race, family income or birthplace.

“We thank the countless activists, lawyers, parents and students who put themselves at risk to fight for equality and justice. It was their work and sacrifice that led to the Brown decision, which ended legal segregation in our schools. Those advocates for integrated, diverse schools pursued their beliefs even when they weren’t popular, and fought to ensure that this country lived according to its founding principle: that all people are created equal.”

“César Chávez dedicated his life to defending the rights not only of farm workers, but of all Americans who have suffered under discrimination or oppression. After his family lost its farm to foreclosure during the Great Depression, Chávez worked as a farmhand in the Southwest. His experience inspired him to defend those who toiled beside him, who were often oppressed because of their ethnicity. With fellow civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, he fought for to abolish child labor, for safe and fair working conditions and for equal pay for equal work.

“Today we honor this champion of farmers, especially Hispanic farmers, and all hard-working Americans. But the greatest honor we can bestow on César Chávez is to help carry out his legacy by creating jobs, ensuring American workers can compete in a global economy and guaranteeing every family’s access to quality, affordable healthcare.”