Honoring Senator Robert F. Kennedy and meeting with Anti-Apartheid Leaders in South Africa
Dear Friend,
This week, I traveled to South Africa on a Congressional Delegation led by Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), which also included civil rights icon Representative John Lewis (D-GA) and four other members of Congress. While there I joined members of Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s family who were in Cape Town for the 50th Anniversary of RFK’s famous June 6, 1966 “Ripples of Hope” human rights speech. Keep reading to learn more about my week and follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see these updates as they happen.
Honoring Senator Robert F. Kennedy and meeting with Anti-Apartheid Leaders in South Africa
Honoring Our Brave Men and Women Who Serve in the Armed Forces
Bringing Congress to your Corner
Honoring Senator Robert F. Kennedy and meeting with Anti-Apartheid Leaders in South Africa
House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) invited me to join this delegation to South Africa composed of Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), civil rights icon Representative John Lewis (D-GA), and other influential members of Congress on civil rights issues. Representing Memphis and having authored the House Resolution which embodied the House of Representatives' apology for slavery and the Jim Crow laws that succeed it makes it most appropriate that I share with South African and American leaders in marking this historic and courageous speech by Senator Kennedy. Senator Kennedy's speech helped lift the spirits of those fighting the repressive apartheid system that existed in South Africa.
Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) and Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Ahmed “Kathy” Kathrada met with our delegation and the Kennedy family. “Kathy” Kathrada is an anti-apartheid activist who was imprisoned along with Nelson Mandela at Robben Island, which we toured. After 25 years in jail, Kathrada was released in 1989 and the next year he was elected to serve as a member of parliament, representing the African National Congress (ANC). Kathy was one of the speakers at Nelson Mandela's funeral.
The Kennedy Wall in my Washington, D.C. office
The Congressional Delegation joined members of the Kennedy family during their trip to South Africa at the 50th Anniversary commemoration of Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s Day of Affirmation speech (known as the “Ripples of Hope” speech) at the University of Cape Town, which occurred on June 6, 1966. The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights hosted their trip in honor of the anniversary of the speech. I spent time with my friend Kerry Kennedy, Robert Kennedy’s daughter and human rights activist, another RFK, Rory, a documentary film maker, and a delegation of 22 other Kennedy family members on their journey. The Kennedy family has been a huge inspiration in my life. An entire wall in my Washington, D.C. office is dedicated to the Kennedy family. As a Tennessee State Senator in 1992, I received the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Tennessee’s Bill of Rights Award and chose part of Robert Kennedy’s “Ripples of Hope” speech to be engraved on the award. I often look at these words which are displayed on the plaque on the Kennedy Wall in my office: “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope (and) those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
My American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Tennessee’s Bill of Rights Award displayed on the Kennedy Wall in my Washington, D.C. office.
Robert Kennedy’s words gave hope to the people of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, and other anti-apartheid activists who were arrested at Liliesleaf Farm during a police raid. We had an opportunity to participate in a roundtable discussion with the anti-apartheid veterans at Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia. The roundtable included Whip Hoyer, Congressman Lewis, former South African President Thabo Mbeki who served from 1999-2008, the Kennedy family, members of Harold Wolpe’s family and other anti-apartheid leaders who were arrested at Liliesleaf. Harold Wolpe was an anti-apartheid activist who was imprisoned but escaped and spent 30 years in exile in the United Kingdom. We also had the opportunity to meet with South African business leaders.
Me, Kerry Kennedy and family, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Ripple of Hope participants and our South African hosts
The efforts of activists to end apartheid in South Africa paralleled the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Nelson Mandala famously preached the idea that if you hate, you can’t be for love and freedom. This philosophy allowed him to help unify South Africa after apartheid ended and ratify the Freedom Charter for equality of race and language. Racial problems still exist in South Africa but thanks to those brave souls who gave their lives and others who sacrificed many years of their lives in prison as the price, the apartheid system has died and freedom and the right to vote is enshrined in South Africa.
Me at Nelson Mandela’s home in Johannesburg
Quote by Nelson Mandela
Quote by Nelson Mandela
Honoring Our Brave Men and Women Who Serve in the Armed Forces
Monday was Memorial Day and on Memorial Day, we pay tribute to the memory of the brave men and women who gave their lives defending our nation and reflect on their selfless courage, commitment to our country, and sacrifice they and their families made to keep us safe. I hope your day was safe and enjoyable and that you had the opportunity to keep our fallen defenders in your thoughts and prayers.
Bringing Congress to your Corner
Over the summer, my office will hold three “Congress on your Corner” events. Please mark these dates on your calendar. If you have questions or problems with Social Security, Medicare, FHA, the VA or any other federal agencies, my staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance.
- Friday, June 17 from 10:30am-12:30pm at the Millington Public Library (4858 Navy Rd)
- Friday, July 15 from 12pm-2pm at the Ed Rice Community Center (2907 N. Watkins St)
- Friday, August 12 from 10:30am-12:30pm at the Whitehaven Branch Library (4120 Millbranch Rd)
Please visit my website at https://cohen.house.gov for more information on Congress on your Corner.
As always, I remain.
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress