Hoyer Speaks with Marylanders Visiting Civil Rights Exhibit on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) spoke to Maryland civil rights leaders, directors of Maryland Historical Societies and Heritage Areas, along with representatives from the Maryland Humanities Council Board and Maryland History Day awardees, who were hosted on Capitol Hill by Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD). Congressman Hoyer and Senator Cardin met with the group who were in Washington, DC to tour the Library of Congress exhibit, The Civil Rights Act of 1964: A Long Struggle for Freedom. The exhibition commemorates the 50th anniversary of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, and explores the events that shaped the civil rights movement, as well as the far-reaching impact the Act had on a changing society.
"I was pleased to speak with these leaders and students today prior to their visit to the civil rights exhibit," said Congressman Steny Hoyer. "This exhibit is one of the most comprehensive and thoughtful presentations of the history of the Civil Rights Act that has ever been curated. Americans from Maryland and across the country have been joined by visitors from around the world in visiting this exhibit and learning in greater detail about the history of segregation, racial violence, and brutal injustice – and about the great debate in Congress and in our country that sought to put an end to them. I hope after going through the exhibit, they will be able to tell the story of civil rights to the next generation of Marylanders – not only so that they may know what occurred in the past but what they must strive to continue building for the future."
Representatives Elijah Cummings, Chris Van Hollen, John Sarbanes, Donna Edwards, and John Delaney (all D-MD) also met with the group.