House Proceeding 03-10-09 on Mar 10th, 2009 :: 0:52:30 to 0:57:15
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0:52:26 to 0:52:46( Edit History Discussion )

Bennie G. Thompson: i do understand now and i misspoke before that the other side does have to speak. therefore i will reserve my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentlelady from maryland. ms. edwards: mr. speaker, i yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from mississippi, mr. thompson, the sponsor of the bill. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from mississippi is

0:52:30 to 0:57:15( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Bennie G. Thompson

0:52:47 to 0:53:07( Edit History Discussion )

Bennie G. Thompson: recognized for such time as he may consume. mr. thompson: thank you very much, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, i rise to support h.r. 842, a bill to setting the united states courthouse under construction in jackson, mississippi, as the r. jess brown united states courthouse.

0:53:08 to 0:53:29( Edit History Discussion )

Bennie G. Thompson: mr. speaker, r. jess brown was born in september, 1912, in coffeeville, kansas. his parents were jazz musicians, vaudeville performers, and theater managers. jess received a bachelor of science in industrial arts from illinois state normal

0:53:30 to 0:53:50( Edit History Discussion )

Bennie G. Thompson: university, and a masters of science in education in the area of industrial education from indiana university in bloomington, indiana. after teaching at alcorn state university, he moved to jackson, mississippi, where he taught industrial arts. the only black high school the city of jackson,

0:53:51 to 0:54:11( Edit History Discussion )

Bennie G. Thompson: mississippi, at that time. while teaching at lanier, mr. brown became an intervening plaintiff in a lawsuit that sought equal pay f all teachers in jackson, mississippi. after teaching in jackson, jess attended texas southern university law school.

0:54:12 to 0:54:32( Edit History Discussion )

Bennie G. Thompson: jess left the law school before receiving his juryis doctorate but was able to go back to mississippi and pass the mississippi bar in 1953. after passing the bar, mr. brown began practicing law in vicksburg, mississippi. as a young lawyer jess confined his practice to cases involving

0:54:33 to 0:54:53( Edit History Discussion )

Bennie G. Thompson: divorces, deeds, land titles, and other practices that did not disturb white members of the bar. however after the brown vs. topeka board of education ruling, brown felt compelled to defend the civil rights of african-americans. in the fall of 195, the

0:54:54 to 0:55:14( Edit History Discussion )

Bennie G. Thompson: conditions and hardships endured by black lawyers in the courts led mr. brown and seven other black attorneys to establish the magnolia bar association. mr. speaker, mr. brown is credited with filing the first civil rights lawsuit in mississippi. this lawsuit on behalf of a jefferson county minister

0:55:15 to 0:55:37( Edit History Discussion )

Bennie G. Thompson: challenged laws that prevented blacks from voting. mr. speaker, r. jess brown has an extensive record as a civil rights lawyer among his many cases. mr. brown represented clyde kinard after he was arrted while trying to enroll at the university of southern mississippi.

0:55:38 to 0:55:58( Edit History Discussion )

Bennie G. Thompson: jess served as co-counsel for james meredith's lawsuit to enter the university of mississippi. this case was the ultimate cause of the integration of that university. mr. brow represented dr. gilbert mason whene and others were arrested in their efforts to end racial segregation on the

0:55:59 to 0:56:21( Edit History Discussion )

Bennie G. Thompson: beaches of biloxi, mississippi. he represented medgar evers, dr. aaron henry as they fought for civil rights ithe 1960's and 1970's. mr. speaker, mr. brown was admitted to practice law before all courts in mississippi, the united states district court for the northern district of mississippi, the united states district court for the southern

0:56:22 to 0:56:44( Edit History Discussion )

Bennie G. Thompson: district of mississippi, the united states court of appeals for th fifth circuit, and the united states supreme court. mr. brown also served on executive board of the national bar association for approximately 15 years. mr. speaker, on january 2, 1990, r. jess brown died in jackson,

0:56:45 to 0:57:06( Edit History Discussion )

Bennie G. Thompson: mississippi, at the age of 77. mr. speaker, r. jess brown did many great things for the people of mississippi and he's received many accolades for his accomplishments. as i stand here today in part because of the efforts of jess brown. i can think of few other people worthy of having their name on a mississippi courthouse under

0:57:07 to 0:57:16( Edit History Discussion )

Bennie G. Thompson: construction in jackson, mississippi, none other than r. jess brown. mr. speaker, i urge my colleagues to join me in