Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) stood on the Senate floor for 25 hours and 19 minutes, vowing first and foremost to “disrupt business as usual.” Booker’s filibuster was not only a historical win for the Senate floor, but for constitutional democracy in the U.S.
Students are taught that being a bystander to mistreatment is equivalent to being part of the injustice. Booker’s speech made this sentiment of inaction incredibly relevant. His courage to step up and speak out against an administration that he and many of his colleagues disagree with marks a positive shift for Booker and the arguably non-confrontational Democratic Party.
“These are not normal times in our nation,” said Booker while beginning his speech Monday afternoon. He mentioned the growing threats to the American people and that American democracy will only be bolstered by this executive branch’s misuse of power unless the people “do more to stand against them.”
Booker not only spoke for his constituents, but he also broke an important record. In 1957, Segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Thurmond was unsuccessful in hindering the bill’s advancement; however, he was successful in securing and holding the longest filibuster recorded on the Senate floor. During Booker’s filibuster, this record was broken.
“I’m here despite his speech,” said Booker, speaking openly on the Senate floor of his roots as the descendant of both slaves and slave-owners. “I’m here because as powerful as [Thurmond] was, the people are more powerful.”
“This is the people’s house. It’s Article I of the Constitution, and it’s under assault!” shouted Booker with an uncanny amount of perseverance in the 14th hour. He explained to the nearly 100,000 listeners that he was here for his constituents and his goal was to motivate others to take action. His commitment to the filibuster demonstrated a conviction the Democratic Party desperately needs in the face of the current administration.
Booker garnered undeniable support throughout his filibuster, using his principles to drive his peers against passivity, leading many senators to take the stand and ask Booker questions.
The time is now for citizens to view political inaction as action and force elected officials to fulfill the promises they were elected for. It is time to encourage senators to speak out, as noncompliance is no longer an option within this nation. Booker said during his filibuster that “The power of the people is greater than the people in power” — a sentiment that, if internalized by the American people, can lead to changing the course of history.
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