Within the sacred halls of the U.S. Capitol building, statues of America’s greatest leaders stand tall to tell the stories of varied chapters in our nation’s history. This week, the Arkansas congressional delegation, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and others unveiled a statue of one of Arkansas’ greatest, Daisy Lee Gatson Bates. This was the first time in nearly a hundred years that a statue from the Natural State had been dedicated in the U.S. Capitol. It was an honor to witness such a remarkable occasion.
Originally from Huttig, Ark., not far from the Louisiana line, Daisy Bates faced the atrocities of racism from an early age. At only 3 years old, three white men raped, killed and dumped her mother into a pond — they were never brought to justice, never held accountable. Fifty-four years later, in an interview, Daisy said, “I was so tight inside, there was so much hate. And I think it started then without me knowing it. It prepared me; it gave me the strength to carry this out.” Fortunately, she channeled her hate and anger into a lifelong motivation to make a difference — to seek justice in a world of injustice.
Bates was at the center of activism during the civil rights movement as a mentor for the Little Rock Nine and a journalist for the Arkansas Weekly, where she told stories of Black students across the state. Daisy was a courageous woman. She often spoke about being afraid, afraid of the violence against her and her fellow Black Arkansans. She even told the Little Rock Nine, “One of us might die in this fight … if they kill me, you have to go on. If I die, don’t you stop.” We all know that courage does not mean an absence of fear. Yet true courage, the example of courage Daisy Bates exemplified, is facing our fear, overcoming it and doing the right thing.
Bates has a remarkable story; now, with her statue in the U.S. Capitol, it will be told for years to come. As people from around the world visit her statue, it will be a semblance of the justice she so faithfully sought — not just for herself but for all.
Promoting a fair, accurate census
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The U.S. House of Representatives just passed the Equal Representation Act, legislation I co-sponsored, to ensure a fair apportionment based on equal representation of citizens in the U.S. census. In 2010, President Obama overturned nearly 200 years of precedent when he removed the citizenship question from the census, allowing foreign nationals who have not been naturalized to be counted, disproportionately impacting how congressional districts are drawn. By excluding noncitizens from apportionment, this bill ensures that the constitutional principle of “one person, one vote” is not diluted by awarding more congressional districts to states with disproportionately high populations of noncitizens. I was proud to co-sponsor this legislation, and I thank my colleagues in the House for their support in its passage. Click here for the bill text of H.R. 7109, the Equal Representation Act.
Agriculture on the National Mall
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers brought a taste of rural America to the National Mall this week to showcase the latest agricultural equipment and technology. Record numbers of industry leaders, including USA Rice, John Deere, the National Corn Growers Association and so many more, brought their expertise to the nation’s capital to showcase the future of agriculture. It was great visiting “Ag on the Mall” to chat with industry professionals and see the newest innovations that will be instrumental in feeding and clothing the world!
Thank you, teachers
This week, we celebrated National Teacher Appreciation Week! Thank you to all the teachers in the Fourth District, and nationwide, for your dedication to educating the next generation of leaders.
Bruce Westerman is a congressman who represents Arkansas’ Fourth District.