REMEMBERING REV. DR. BERNARD LAFAYETTE, JR.

REMEMBERING REV. DR. BERNARD LAFAYETTE, JR.

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 54 (Monday, March 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 54 (Monday, March 23, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S1542-S1543] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] REMEMBERING REV. DR. BERNARD LAFAYETTE, JR. Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor the life and service of a great advocate for justice and nonviolence, Rev. Dr. Bernard Lafayette, Jr. Dr. Lafayette was a Freedom Rider who risked his life challenging segregation across the South. He helped organize the Selma voting rights movement, laying the groundwork for the march from Selma to Montgomery and the eventual passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As a young activist in Nashville, Dr. Lafayette worked closely with John Lewis, who later became my mentor and a moral compass for so many of us who serve today. Together, they believed deeply in the power of nonviolence and the courage it takes to stand up for justice, even in the face of violence and hatred. The late Rev. Dr. Bernard Lafayette helped shape a generation of leaders [[Page S1543]] who carried forward the spirit of the movement. Today, I rise to honor his life and legacy. May we continue the work he devoted his life to building a nation that lives up to its highest ideals of justice, equality, and dignity for all. Dr. Lafayette and his family are in my prayers. ____________________