Members of Black Caucus on the Capitol Steps

Rep. Shirley Chisholm (D-NY) speaking on Capitol steps: "I want to share a good morning to my brothers and sisters who have assembled from all parts of these great U.S. We just got through singing "We Shall Overcome" and we will definitely overcome. There is no doubt in our minds that there is a legislative, as well as an executive retreat from affirmative action, but affirmative action is not reverse discrimination. It is rather the recognition of the fact that over two hundred years black persons in these United States of America have been excluded from economic, social, and political milieu of this great country. We want to further say that affirmative action is not preferential treatment; affirmative action is the recognition that because of preferential treatment in terms of the other brothers and sisters in white America that we have to do some catching up. We would not have had to discuss or even think about affirmative action if we could have relied upon the morality and consciousness of those in power to give to us the equability of opportunity across the board. And so my friends, this morning we want to say to everyone unequivocally, and in a very clear, loud, clarion-like voice, is that we will not stop. We intend to continue. The bodies of thousands of Americans lie buried deeply in the soil of America in terms of getting us where we are today. And because of our current administration, whose actions, not its rhetoric, but whose actions are declaring quite clearly that they are beginning to retreat. We have got to let them know this is no time for retreat. That we are going to continue because of what the American Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and rhetorical annunciations of all these people in government have said to us. We will fight!" Rep. William H. Gray III (D-PA), Rep. Ron Dellums (D-CA), Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), Rep. Harold Washington (D-IL), Rep. Walter Fauntroy (D.C. Delegate) and other CBC members stand behind Rep. Chisolm.