Floor SpeechNeutral2026-05-14

THE SILENT AND THE SINGERS WILL BE HEARD

Civil Rights

Context

On 2026-05-14, Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-6) delivered a floor speech titled "THE SILENT AND THE SINGERS WILL BE HEARD" in the House.

Full Text

THE SILENT AND THE SINGERS WILL BE HEARD

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026)] [House] [Page H3462] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] THE SILENT AND THE SINGERS WILL BE HEARD (Mr. Casten of Illinois was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Speaker, what should we say to angry men in robes? What are we going to say to men in robes who are angry about the outcome of the Civil War? What are we going to say to men in robes who are angry about Reconstruction-era amendments to our Constitution that said that anyone born in America can't have their voice or their vote suppressed, regardless of their race? What are we going to say to men in robes who are angry that Congress finally enshrined those protections into law through the 1964 and 1965 Civil Rights Acts? What are we going to say to men in robes who are angry that those laws gave voices to people whose voices had been suppressed since 1619? What are we going to say to those angry men if they believe that their robes, and their robes alone, are going to scare us into silence; that it will let them force their racist and unconstitutional wills on us? Chief Justice Roberts has said that we now live in a color-blind society, to which I would ask you all: Does your answer to those questions depend on whether that robe is white or black? Make absolutely no mistake, the agenda of this Supreme Court and the agenda of the Klan are far too similar. This court decided in Shelby that Congress couldn't supervise State elections that had a history of discrimination. They decided in Calais that it is okay to design congressional districts to suppress minority voices. They will do that all, confident that their robes are going to scare us all into silence. I ask you again: What are we going to say to all of these angry men in robes? Because we do have a voice in this body. We have the legislative authority to slash their jurisdiction, to take away their ability to decide what cases to hear. We have the power to defend this coequal branch against their encroachments, to defend the Constitution, and to defend every American who yearns for a country that is better than this. Now, some of you are no doubt going to favor silence. But the best among us in this body right now are going to lift every one of our voices and sing. We are going to sing a song that is full of the faith that all of that dark past has taught us but is rich with the hope that this present has brought us. Make no mistake, every one of us, the singers and the silent, are going to be heard. ____________________

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THE SILENT AND THE SINGERS WILL BE HEARD Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026)] [House] [Page H3462] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] THE SILENT AND THE SINGERS WILL BE HEARD (Mr. Casten of Illinois was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Speaker, what should we say to angry men in robes? What are we going to say to men in robes who are angry about the outcome of the Civil War? What are we going to say to men in robes who are angry about Reconstruction-era amendments to our Constitution that said that anyone born in America can't have their voice or their vote suppressed, regardless of their race? What are we going to say to men in robes who are angry that Congress finally enshrined those protections into law through the 1964 and 1965 Civil Rights Acts? What are we going to say to men in robes who are angry that those laws gave voices to people whose voices had been suppressed since 1619? What are we going to say to those angry men if they believe that their robes, and their robes alone, are going to scare us into silence; that it will let them force their racist and unconstitutional wills on us? Chief Justice Roberts has said that we now live in a color-blind society, to which I would ask you all: Does your answer to those questions depend on whether that robe is white or black? Make absolutely no mistake, the agenda of this Supreme Court and the agenda of the Klan are far too similar. This court decided in Shelby that Congress couldn't supervise State elections that had a history of discrimination. They decided in Calais that it is okay to design congressional districts to suppress minority voices. They will do that all, confident that their robes are going to scare us all into silence. I ask you again: What are we going to say to all of these angry men in robes? Because we do have a voice in this body. We have the legislative authority to slash their jurisdiction, to take away their ability to decide what cases to hear. We have the power to defend this coequal branch against their encroachments, to defend the Constitution, and to defend every American who yearns for a country that is better than this. Now, some of you are no doubt going to favor silence. But the best among us in this body right now are going to lift every one of our voices and sing. We are going to sing a song that is full of the faith that all of that dark past has taught us but is rich with the hope that this present has brought us. Make no mistake, every one of us, the singers and the silent, are going to be heard. ____________________