House Proceeding 02-24-09 on Feb 24th, 2009 :: 0:06:10 to 0:08:20
Total video length: 1 hours 25 minutes Stream Tools: Stream Overview | Edit Time

Note: MetaVid video transcripts may contain inaccuracies, help us build a more perfect archive

Views:61 Duration: 0:02:10 Discussion

Previous speech:

Next speech:

0:06:07 to 0:06:27( Edit History Discussion )

Stephen Cohen: guam with governor felix comacho. in conclusion, god bless our troops and we will never forget september 11. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee rise? mr. cohen: to address the house it takes for a memorial. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. cohen: thank you, mr. speaker.

0:06:10 to 0:08:20( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Stephen Cohen

0:06:28 to 0:06:48( Edit History Discussion )

Stephen Cohen: yesterday in memphis, tennessee, my hometown in the site of tennessee nine, a great leader in our community passed away. a gentleman by the name of alvin king. alvin king was 73 years old, and during his time in memphis, he was a political leader. he was an african-american gentleman. this is black history month. he was the third memphian to be

0:06:49 to 0:07:13( Edit History Discussion )

Stephen Cohen: elected to the house of representatives in tennessee since reconstruction in 1968, and he served in the house of representatives for 24 years, the third longest serving african-american in the tennessee house of i served with representative king for 106 those years when i was a senator, and he was a very capable, well-liked and effective legislator.

0:07:14 to 0:07:34( Edit History Discussion )

Stephen Cohen: he did something that is, i guess, embodied in our president, barack obama, that people can get beyond race. alvin king was born of the civil rights era when it was important in his district that he was african-american and that his district elected an african-american. as time went on, he saw the need for people to reach across and get votes from people

0:07:35 to 0:07:56( Edit History Discussion )

Stephen Cohen: regardless of race. and he said in 1991 in a mayorial race when he supported a candidate other than the candidate i supported that black people will vote for white people and white people will vote for black as long as race isn't the issue. and he supported a white candidate who was incumbent

0:07:57 to 0:08:21( Edit History Discussion )

Stephen Cohen: mayor because he worked with him as a state legislator. that was the cause of his defeat in 1992. but he was early in the call for biracial voting. it wasn't popular for african-americans to come out and support me openly.