WASHINGTON – Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) spoke on Saturday, August 28th at the Make Good Trouble Rally for voting, civil, and social rights at the Lincoln Memorial. The rally, which was held on the 58th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, was one of dozens held across the country to call for protections for voting and civil rights, and an end to the racist and anti-democratic suppression of Black voters across the country. An estimated 75.000 people attended events today in D.C.

The Congressman spoke twice. Black Westchester was about to catch Congressman Bowman for a few of words on the event, between his trips to the microphone.

In his speech at the rally, Rep. Bowman advocated for the abolition of the filibuster, D.C. statehood, and the passage of legislation including the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, to reaffirm voting rights in the wake of Supreme Court decisions weakening the Voting Rights Act.

“It’s a shame that, 58 years later, we are here fighting for the same darn thing as Dr. Martin Luther King,” Rep. Bowman said. “Here is our charge in the coming weeks: We have to pass the For the People Act in the Senate, and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in the Senate. The House has already done its job, so the Senate has to step up and do its job. But the Senate is not going to do its job if we do not exercise our unlimited power as the people of the United States of America.”

Other speakers included Rev. Williams Barber, Congresswoman Cory Bush, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, the DC Youth Mayors and Deborah Watts, cousin of Emmett Till (who killed 66-years-ago today, August 28, 1955). The rally was hosted by Radio & TV Host, Political Analyst and Commentator Rev. Mark Thompson and showed videos of Congressman John Lewis 1963 speech. see video below of rally in its entirety.

America is in a state of emergency. Voting rights are being threatened in epic proportions, our histories are being erased from our nation’s education systems, and despite the change in administrations, Black and Brown communities are still suffering. And what we know is that NO ONE will fight for our people like we will.

Look for Congressman Bowman on an upcoming episode of Black Westchester’s People Before Politics Radio Show to further elaborate on the subject!