Sen. Cory Booker Sets New Senate Speech Record
In an unprecedented marathon of words, Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey made history with his extended speech against President Trump’s policies. Booker’s address on Tuesday night lasted over 25 hours, surpassing the long-standing record of Sen. Strom Thurmond from 1957.
The Senate chamber erupted in applause as Booker broke the record, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer acknowledging the moment by asking Booker if he was aware of his achievement. “I know now,” Booker responded amid the ovation, but continued speaking, stating he was not ready to conclude his remarks.
Booker referred to the occasion as “a moral moment” for the nation, urging both Republican and Democratic colleagues to defend valuable programs and agencies facing significant cuts under Trump’s administration. He humorously mentioned needing to address “biological urgencies” but persisted in his discourse.
The speech not only eclipsed Thurmond’s 24-hour, 18-minute filibuster against the Civil Rights Act of 1957 but also surpassed Sen. Ted Cruz’s 21-hour, 19-minute speech against Obamacare in 2013. Booker shared messages from Americans expressing concerns over economic hardships and potential cuts to essential programs like Medicaid.
Booker appealed to Republicans disapproving of Trump’s economic initiatives to oppose them, citing conservative voices such as the Cato Institute and the Manhattan Institute. He invoked the Federalist Papers, emphasizing the Senate’s responsibility in maintaining checks and balances over executive power.
During his speech, Booker reflected on historical figures from the Civil Rights Era, including Thurmond and the late Congressman John Lewis, who advocated for “good trouble” in the pursuit of justice. Booker mentioned a Senate room named after Thurmond, expressing his internal conflict over breaking the record held by a man who opposed civil rights.
Booker recounted a story shared by Lewis about a man who once attacked him during segregation protests, decades later seeking forgiveness with his grandson. “Every one of us needs mercy. Every one of us needs redemption,” Lewis told Booker, highlighting the transformative power of forgiveness and reconciliation.
As Schumer confirmed Booker’s record-breaking moment, Booker shared his discomfort with Thurmond’s long-held record, feeling it was an anomaly given the civil rights struggles that shaped his upbringing.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
