Filibustering is a political procedure where one or multiple members of a party have a non stop debate in order to delay a decision being made.
In the very first session of the Senate, on September 22nd, 1789, Virginian representatives tried to talk the time away so that Pennsylvania representatives wouldn’t have enough time to get a certain bill passed.
Now more than ever, someone fighting for the people is very much needed and a man named Cory Booker did just that.
Booker is the democratic senator from New Jersey and didn’t eat, drink, sleep, or even use the bathroom for 25 straight hours. This was all to stand up against Trump’s policies on immigration, education, and the economy.
Junior Gurleen Kaler said, “I didn’t even know of filibustering before this, but now that I’ve learned about it, it’s definitely a super noble and courageous act.” She added, “It takes a lot of grit, determination and true passion for what you’re speaking about.”
In his introductory remarks, Booker said, “In just 71 days, the president has inflicted harm after harm on Americans’ safety, financial stability, the foundations of our democracy and any sense of common decency,” he emphasized, “These are not normal times in our nation. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate.”
Junior Ja’dore Wells said, “I really commend Cory for what he’s doing. It feels like a lot of democrats nowadays just use their words to fight back and don’t actually take action and stand up for what they believe in.” She explained, “Trump creating these evil and unrealistic policies are really frustrating to see get even close to being passed and Cory using checks and balances to check Trump is what we need.”
According to AP News, “Booker of New Jersey broke the record for longest Senate floor speech, a mark that had belonged for decades to Strom Thurmond, the avowed segregationist from South Carolina who filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1957.”
“Cory breaking the record for the longest Senate speech shows just how truly insane Trump’s policies are and how much they need to be stopped,” Junior Salisse Jones said. “Cory’s truly fighting for the people and I’m glad it’s finally happening.”
Booker realized that the Democratic party had been getting flak for not working hard enough to try and stop Trump’s Sweeping Actions and he wanted to show that it wasn’t necessarily true.
“I can’t imagine how exhausted he must have been. I can barely pull an all-nighter, let alone perform a speech in front of very powerful people and be clear in my arguments and fight for a cause,” Kaler explained.
Booker’s show of justice, determination, and democratic values show that anyone else feeling like their ideas need to get out there should step up. When you use your voice, the right people will be listening.
Wells concluded, ”Now that we see what standing up for your ideals are so effective, everyone should be doing it because once someone starts it, the power goes to the people.”
