＂WeShallOvere＂.doc

WeShallOvere LyndonBainesJohnson:WeShallOvere Mr.Speaker,Mr.President,MembersoftheCongress: Ispeaktonightforthedignityofmanandthedestinyofdemocracy.Iurgeeverymemberofbothparties,Americansofallreligionsandofallcolors,fromeverysectionofthiscountry,tojoinmeinthatcause. Attimeshistoryandfatemeetatasingletimeinasingleplacetoshapeaturningpointinmansunendingsearchforfreedom.SoitwasatLexingtonandConcord.SoitwasacenturyagoatAppomattox.SoitwaslastweekinSelma,Alabama.There,longsufferingmenandwomenpeacefullyprotestedthedenialoftheirrightsasAmericans.Manywerebrutallyassaulted.Onegoodman,amanofGod,waskilled. ThereisnocauseforprideinwhathashappenedinSelma.ThereisnocauseforselfsatisfactioninthelongdenialofequalrightsofmillionsofAmericans.Butthereiscauseforhopeandforfaithinourdemocracyinwhatishappeningheretonight.Forthecriesofpainandthehymnsandprotestsofoppressedpeoplehavesummonedintoconvocationallthemajestyofthisgreatgovernmentthegovernmentofthegreatestnationonearth.Ourmissionisatoncetheoldestandthemostbasicofthiscountry:torightwrong,todojustice,toserveman. Inourtimewehaveetolivewiththemomentsofgreatcrisis.Ourliveshavebeenmarkedwithdebateaboutgreatissuesissuesofwarandpeace,issuesofprosperityanddepression.ButrarelyinanytimedoesanissuelaybarethesecretheartofAmericaitself.Rarelyarewemetwithachallenge,nottoourgrowthorabundance,orourwelfareoroursecurity,butrathertothevalues,andthepurposes,andthemeaningofourbelovednation. TheissueofequalrightsforAmericanNegroesissuchanissue. Andshouldwedefeateveryenemy,andshouldwedoubleourwealthandconquerthestars,andstillbeunequaltothisissue,thenwewillhavefailedasapeopleandasanation.Forwithacountryaswithaperson,Whatisamanprofited,ifheshallgainthewholeworld,andlosehisownsoul? ThereisnoNegroproblem.ThereisnoSouthernproblem.ThereisnoNorthernproblem.ThereisonlyanAmericanproblem.AndwearemetheretonightasAmericansnotasDemocratsorRepublicans.WearemethereasAmericanstosolvethatproblem. Thiswasthefirstnationinthehistoryoftheworldtobefoundedwithapurpose.ThegreatphrasesofthatpurposestillsoundineveryAmericanheart,NorthandSouth:Allmenarecreatedequal,governmentbyconsentofthegoverned,givemelibertyorgivemedeath.Well,thosearenotjustcleverwords,orthosearenotjustemptytheories.IntheirnameAmericanshavefoughtanddiedfortwocenturies,andtonightaroundtheworldtheystandthereasguardiansofourliberty,riskingtheirlives. Thosewordsareapromisetoeverycitizenthatheshallshareinthedignityofman.Thisdignitycannotbefoundinamanspossessions;itcannotbefoundinhispower,orinhisposition.Itreallyrestsonhisrighttobetreatedasamanequalinopportunitytoallothers.Itsaysthatheshallshareinfreedom,heshallchoosehisleaders,educatehischildren,provideforhisfamilyaccordingtohisabilityandhismeritsasahumanbeing.Toapplyanyothertesttodenyamanhishopesbecauseofhiscolor,orrace,orhisreligion,ortheplaceofhisbirthisnotonlytodoinjustice,itistodenyAmericaandtodishonorthedeadwhogavetheirlivesforAmericanfreedom. Ourfathersbelievedthatifthisnobleviewoftherightsofmanwastoflourish,itmustberootedindemocracy.Themostbasicrightofallwastherighttochooseyourownleaders.Thehistoryofthiscountry,inlargemeasure,isthehistoryoftheexpansionofthatrighttoallofourpeople.Manyoftheissuesofcivilrightsareveryplexandmostdifficult.Butaboutthistherecanandshouldbenoargument. EveryAmericancitizenmusthaveanequalrighttovote. Thereisnoreasonwhichcanexcusethedenialofthatright.Thereisnodutywhichweighsmoreheavilyonusthanthedutywehavetoensurethatright. YettheharshfactisthatinmanyplacesinthiscountrymenandwomenarekeptfromvotingsimplybecausetheyareNegroes.Everydeviceofwhichhumaningenuityiscapablehasbeenusedtodenythisright.TheNegrocitizenmaygotoregisteronlytobetoldthatthedayiswrong,orthehourislate,ortheofficialinchargeisabsent.Andifhepersists,andifhemanagestopresenthimselftotheregistrar,hemaybedisqualifiedbecausehedidnotspellouthismiddlenameorbecauseheabbreviatedawordontheapplication.Andifhemanagestofilloutanapplication,heisgivenatest.Theregistraristhesolejudgeofwhetherhepassesthistest.HemaybeaskedtorecitetheentireConstitution,orexplainthemostplexprovisionsofStatelaw.Andevenacollegedegreecannotbeusedtoprovethathecanreadandwrite. Forthefactisthattheonlywaytopassthesebarriersistoshowawhiteskin.Experiencehasclearlyshownthattheexistingprocessoflawcannotoveresystematicandingeniousdiscrimination.NolawthatwenowhaveonthebooksandIhavehelpedtoputthreeofthemtherecanensuretherighttovotewhenlocalofficialsaredeterminedtodenyit.Insuchacaseourdutymustbecleartoallofus.TheConstitutionsaysthatnopersonshallbekeptfromvotingbecauseofhisraceorhiscolor.WehaveallswornanoathbeforeGodtosupportandtodefendthatConstitution.Wemustnowactinobediencetothatoath. Wednesday,IwillsendtoCongressalawdesignedtoeliminateillegalbarrierstotherighttovote. ThebroadprinciplesofthatbillwillbeinthehandsoftheDemocraticandRepublicanleaderstomorrow.Aftertheyhavereviewedit,itwillehereformallyasabill.Iamgratefulforthisopportunitytoeheretonightattheinvitationoftheleadershiptoreasonwithmyfriends,togivethemmyviews,andtovisitwithmyformercolleagues.IvehadpreparedamoreprehensiveanalysisofthelegislationwhichIhadintendedtotransmittotheclerktomorrow,butwhichIwillsubmittotheclerkstonight.ButIwanttoreallydiscusswithyounow,briefly,themainproposalsofthislegislation. ThisbillwillstrikedownrestrictionstovotinginallelectionsFederal,State,andlocalwhichhavebeenusedtodenyNegroestherighttovote.Thisbillwillestablishasimple,uniformstandardwhichcannotbeused,howeveringenioustheeffort,tofloutourConstitution.ItwillprovideforcitizenstoberegisteredbyofficialsoftheUnitedStates * ,iftheStateofficialsrefusetoregisterthem.Itwilleliminatetedious,unnecessarylawsuitswhichdelaytherighttovote.Finally,thislegislationwillensurethatproperlyregisteredindividualsarenotprohibitedfromvoting. IwillwelethesuggestionsfromalloftheMembersofCongressIhavenodoubtthatIwillgetsomeonwaysandmeanstostrengthenthislawandtomakeiteffective.ButexperiencehasplainlyshownthatthisistheonlypathtocarryoutthemandoftheConstitution. TothosewhoseektoavoidactionbytheirNational * intheirownmunities,whowanttoandwhoseektomaintainpurelylocalcontroloverelections,theanswerissimple:openyourpollingplacestoallyourpeople. Allowmenandwomentoregisterandvotewhateverthecoloroftheirskin. Extendtherightsofcitizenshiptoeverycitizenofthisland. Thereisnoconstitutionalissuehere.ThemandoftheConstitutionisplain.Thereisnomoralissue.ItiswrongdeadlywrongtodenyanyofyourfellowAmericanstherighttovoteinthiscountry.ThereisnoissueofStatesrightsornationalrights.Thereisonlythestruggleforhumanrights.Ihavenottheslightestdoubtwhatwillbeyouranswer. ButthelasttimeaPresidentsentacivilrightsbilltotheCongress,itcontainedaprovisiontoprotectvotingrightsinFederalelections.Thatcivilrightsbillwaspassedaftereightlongmonthsofdebate.AndwhenthatbillcametomydeskfromtheCongressformysignature,theheartofthevotingprovisionhadbeeneliminated.Thistime,onthisissue,theremustbenodelay,ornohesitation,ornopromisewithourpurpose. Wecannot,wemustnot,refusetoprotecttherightofeveryAmericantovoteineveryelectionthathemaydesiretoparticipatein.Andweoughtnot,andwecannot,andwemustnotwaitanothereightmonthsbeforewegetabill.Wehavealreadywaitedahundredyearsandmore,andthetimeforwaitingisgone. SoIaskyoutojoinmeinworkinglonghoursnightsandweekends,ifnecessarytopassthisbill.AndIdontmakethatrequestlightly.ForfromthewindowwhereIsitwiththeproblemsofourcountry,Irecognizethatfromoutsidethischamberistheoutragedconscienceofanation,thegraveconcernofmanynations,andtheharshjudgmentofhistoryonouracts. Butevenifwepassthisbill,thebattlewillnotbeover.WhathappenedinSelmaispartofafarlargermovementwhichreachesintoeverysectionandStateofAmerica.ItistheeffortofAmericanNegroestosecureforthemselvesthefullblessingsofAmericanlife.Theircausemustbeourcausetoo.BecauseitsnotjustNegroes,butreallyitsallofus,whomustoverethecripplinglegacyofbigotryandinjustice. Andweshallovere. AsamanwhoserootsgodeeplyintoSouthernsoil,Iknowhowagonizingracialfeelingsare.Iknowhowdifficultitistoreshapetheattitudesandthestructureofoursociety.Butacenturyhaspassed,morethanahundredyearssincetheNegrowasfreed.Andheisnotfullyfreetonight. ItwasmorethanahundredyearsagothatAbrahamLincoln,agreatPresidentofanotherparty,signedtheEmancipationProclamation;butemancipationisaproclamation,andnotafact.Acenturyhaspassed,morethanahundredyears,sinceequalitywaspromised.AndyettheNegroisnotequal.Acenturyhaspassedsincethedayofpromise.Andthepromiseisunkept. Thetimeofjusticehasnowe.ItellyouthatIbelievesincerelythatnoforcecanholditback.ItisrightintheeyesofmanandGodthatitshoulde.Andwhenitdoes,IthinkthatdaywillbrightenthelivesofeveryAmerican.ForNegroesarenottheonlyvictims.Howmanywhitechildrenhavegoneuneducated?Howmanywhitefamilieshavelivedinstarkpoverty?Howmanywhiteliveshavebeenscarredbyfear,becausewevewastedourenergyandoursubstancetomaintainthebarriersofhatredandterror? AndsoIsaytoallofyouhere,andtoallinthenationtonight,thatthosewhoappealtoyoutoholdontothepastdosoatthecostofdenyingyouyourfuture. Thisgreat,rich,restlesscountrycanofferopportunityandeducationandhopetoall,allblackandwhite,allNorthandSouth,sharecropperandcitydweller.Thesearetheenemies:poverty,ignorance,disease.Theyreourenemies,notourfellowman,notourneighbor.Andtheseenemiestoopoverty,disease,andignorance:weshallovere. Nowletnoneofusinanysectionlookwithpridefulrighteousnessonthetroublesinanothersection,ortheproblemsofourneighbors.TheresreallynopartofAmericawherethepromiseofequalityhasbeenfullykept.InBuffaloaswellasinBirmingham,inPhiladelphiaaswellasSelma,Americansarestrugglingforthefruitsoffreedom.Thisisonenation.WhathappensinSelmaorinCincinnatiisamatteroflegitimateconcerntoeveryAmerican.Butleteachofuslookwithinourownheartsandourownmunities,andleteachofusputourshouldertothewheeltorootoutinjusticewhereveritexists. Aswemeethereinthispeaceful,historicchambertonight,menfromtheSouth,someofwhomwereatIwoJima,menfromtheNorthwhohavecarriedOldGlorytofarcornersoftheworldandbroughtitbackwithoutastainonit,menfromtheEastandfromtheWest,areallfightingtogetherwithoutregardtoreligion,orcolor,orregion,inVietnam.Menfromeveryregionfoughtforusacrosstheworldtwentyyearsago. Andnowinthesemondangersandthesemonsacrifices,theSouthmadeitscontributionofhonorandgallantrynolessthananyotherregionintheGreatRepublicandinsomeinstances,agreatmanyofthem,more. AndIhavenottheslightestdoubtthatgoodmenfromeverywhereinthiscountry,fromtheGreatLakestotheGulfofMexico,fromtheGoldenGatetotheharborsalongtheAtlantic,willrallynowtogetherinthiscausetovindicatethefreedomofallAmericans. Forallofusowethisduty;andIbelievethatallofuswillrespondtoit.YourPresidentmakesthatrequestofeveryAmerican. TherealheroofthisstruggleistheAmericanNegro.Hisactionsandprotests,hiscouragetorisksafetyandeventoriskhislife,haveawakenedtheconscienceofthisnation.Hisdemonstrationshavebeendesignedtocallattentiontoinjustice,designedtoprovokechange,designedtostirreform.HehascalleduponustomakegoodthepromiseofAmerica.Andwhoamonguscansaythatwewouldhavemadethesameprogresswereitnotforhispersistentbravery,andhisfaithinAmericandemocracy. Forattherealheartofbattleforequalityisadeepseatedbeliefinthedemocraticprocess.Equalitydependsnotontheforceofarmsorteargasbutdependsupontheforceofmoralright;notonrecoursetoviolencebutonrespectforlawandorder. AndtherehavebeenmanypressuresuponyourPresidentandtherewillbeothersasthedayseandgo.ButIpledgeyoutonightthatweintendtofightthisbattlewhereitshouldbefoughtinthecourts,andintheCongress,andintheheartsofmen. Wemustpreservetherightoffreespeechandtherightoffreeassembly.Buttherightoffreespeechdoesnotcarrywithit,ashasbeensaid,therighttohollerfireinacrowdedtheater.Wemustpreservetherighttofreeassembly.Butfreeassemblydoesnotcarrywithittherighttoblockpublicthoroughfarestotraffic. Wedohavearighttoprotest,andarighttomarchunderconditionsthatdonotinfringetheconstitutionalrightsofourneighbors.AndIintendtoprotectallthoserightsaslongasIampermittedtoserveinthisoffice. Wewillguardagainstviolence,knowingitstrikesfromourhandstheveryweaponswhichweseek:progress,obediencetolaw,andbeliefinAmericanvalues. InSelma,aselsewhere,weseekandprayforpeace.Weseekorder.Weseekunity.Butwewillnotacceptthepeaceofstifledrights,ortheorderimposedbyfear,ortheunitythatstiflesprotest.Forpeacecannotbepurchasedatthecostofliberty. InSelmatonightandwehadagooddaythereasineverycity,weareworkingforajustandpeacefulsettlementAndwemustallrememberthatafterthisspeechIammakingtonight,afterthepoliceandtheFBIandtheMarshalshaveallgone,andafteryouhavepromptlypassedthisbill,thepeopleofSelmaandtheothercitiesoftheNationmuststillliveandworktogether.Andwhentheattentionofthenationhasgoneelsewhere,theymusttrytohealthewoundsandtobuildanewmunity. Thiscannotbeeasilydoneonabattlegroundofviolence,asthehistoryoftheSouthitselfshows.ItisinrecognitionofthisthatmenofbothraceshaveshownsuchanoutstandinglyimpressiveresponsibilityinrecentdayslastTuesday,againtoday. ThebillthatIampresentingtoyouwillbeknownasacivilrightsbill.But,inalargersense,mostoftheprogramIamremendingisacivilrightsprogram.Itsobjectistoopenthecityofhopetoallpeopleofallraces. BecauseallAmericansjustmusthavetherighttovote.Andwearegoingtogivethemthatright.AllAmericansmusthavetheprivilegesofcitizenshipregardlessofrace.Andtheyaregoingtohavethoseprivilegesofcitizenshipregardlessofrace. ButIwouldliketocautionyouandremindyouthattoexercisetheseprivilegestakesmuchmorethanjustlegalright.Itrequiresatrainedmindandahealthybody.Itrequiresadecenthome,andthechancetofindajob,andtheopportunitytoescapefromtheclutchesofpoverty. Ofcourse,peoplecannotcontributetothenationiftheyarenevertaughttoreadorwrite,iftheirbodiesarestuntedfromhunger,iftheirsicknessgoesuntended,iftheirlifeisspentinhopelesspovertyjustdrawingawelfarecheck.Sowewanttoopenthegatestoopportunity.Butwerealsogoingtogiveallourpeople,blackandwhite,thehelpthattheyneedtowalkthroughthosegates. MyfirstjobaftercollegewasasateacherinCotulla,Texas,inasmallMexicanAmericanschool.FewofthemcouldspeakEnglish,andIcouldntspeakmuchSpanish.Mystudentswerepoorandtheyoftencametoclasswithoutbreakfast,hungry.Andtheyknew,evenintheiryouth,thepainofprejudice.Theyneverseemedtoknowwhypeopledislikedthem.Buttheyknewitwasso,becauseIsawitintheireyes.Ioftenwalkedhomelateintheafternoon,aftertheclasseswerefinished,wishingtherewasmorethatIcoulddo.ButallIknewwastoteachthemthelittlethatIknew,hopingthatitmighthelpthemagainstthehardshipsthatlayahead. Andsomehowyouneverforgetwhatpovertyandhatredcandowhenyouseeitsscarsonthehopefulfaceofayoungchild.Ineverthoughtthen,in1928,thatIwouldbestandingherein1965.ItneverevenoccurredtomeinmyfondestdreamsthatImighthavethechancetohelpthesonsanddaughtersofthosestudentsandtohelppeoplelikethemalloverthisc