Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) shattered a nearly 68-year record this evening, as he spoke on the Senate floor for 24 hours and 19 minutes to protest President Donald Trump‘s tenure.
Booker started at 7 p.m. ET on Monday and has held the floor since then. His marathon has been broken up only by Senate colleagues who he has given time to pose questions, a move that does not yield the floor.
The previous record was held by Sen. Strom Thurmond in 1957, who spoke for 24 hours, 18 minutes to try to block civil rights legislation.
The symbolism of a Black senator surpassing Thurmond, a supporter of racial segregation, was noted by Booker and a number of his colleagues.
As he neared the record, Booker recalled late Rep. John Lewis, the civil rights icon who talked of stirring up “good trouble” to make an impact.
His voice still booming, Booker said, “We cannot act as if these were normal times.”
The moment was carried by MSNBC, but Booker’s marathon drew extensive attention across social media.
Posted by John3262005
13 Comments
He’s been cooking for the last 15-20 minutes.
Good. Extra glad Thurmond lost the record to a black man
Incredibly based, huge turnaround in opinion from a month earlier for me on him
I think Booker is suddenly the lead democrat in the public conscious’ mind. This is definitely going to be a footnote on an American history page some 50 years later. He is going to be the face for the Anti Trump in the history books with this speech, no matter how things turn out now.
With how things are shaping, he may be my early pick for 2028.
“If America hasn’t broke your heart, you haven’t loved her enough”
Beautiful
>“I’m not here because of [Thurmond’s] speech. I’m here despite his speech.“
One of the hardest hitting lines in U.S. history.
Corey Booker 2028?
https://preview.redd.it/9ed660y75bse1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=72a7bdeebbc2b5d0bb9ca5738060c21c8a34b9ef
Wikipedia editors were just waiting to press send
More Dems doing this (along with real action) please.
Try and make it seem like you care.
Bravo senator! What a fantastic achievement! He deserves his place in history for such a feat. Truly, truly incredible… this is the leadership we need!
Most American I’ve felt in a long time. Thank you Senator Booker.
Once again New Jersey stays winning.
!ping USA-NJ
> The previous record was held by Sen. Strom Thurmond in 1957, who spoke for 24 hours, 18 minutes to try to block civil rights legislation.
Imagine hating black people this much.