Story Published:
Nov 13, 2009 at 6:32 PM CST
Story Updated:
Nov 13, 2009 at 6:34 PM CST
It was a turbulent time in American history.
Often risking their lives basic human rights, African Americans faced down over racism and discrimination, with a civil rights movements.
Led by an eventual martyr, their cause was aided by unlikely source, a Republican Senator from Pekin.
Peoria NAACP President Don Jackson says, "Lo and behold we find out that the Senator from Pekin Illinois, our neighbor, Senator Everett Dirksen was very instrumental in the passage of especially the 1964 Civil Rights Act."
Frank Mackaman with the Dirksen Congressional Center says, "He was equally influential in passing the 1965 Voting Rights Act and those two pieces of legislation capped a career of Civil Rights activism beginning from his first term in the house in 1933. He introduced a series of Civil Rights legislation throughout his career...four decades."
So how did it come to pass that this native son of Pekin, not known for its diversity, became the champion of Civil Rights.
Frank Mackaman with the Dirksen Congressional Center says, "He attributed his world view-based on his upbringing here, how his mother raised him, the schooling he received. He read a lot of history. He read a lot of scripture, so his views of Civil Rights were grounded in his research and in his interpretation of what it meant to be of humankind."
Peoria NAACP President Don Jackson says, "In the black community we always thought of people from Pekin as being racist and that was the label a lot of people part on Everett Dirksen, well apparently he wasn't."
At the Dirksen Center, you'll find a thank you letter from Dr. King to the Senator.
There is a picture of Dirksen with Democratic President Lyndon Johnson, who needed the Republican Senator's help to secure GOP votes...because in the 1960's, southern Democrats opposed Civil rights...and Dirksen was able to reach out to his colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
And the progressive Senator from Pekin rose to the occasion.
The NAACP banquet, honoring Senator Everett Dirksen will be held Saturday at the Par-a-Dice Hotel in East Peoria.
Friday, Nov 13 at 9:23 PM Thelma wrote ...
Senator Dirksen was a great man and would be appauld by the politics of the paries today. Maybe Mr.Schock should take a lesson and reach across the aisle. He has a great opportunity by supporting the public option. Of course if the insurance companies are making contributions to him, I doubt he will see the light. Yes Senator Dirkson was an extrordinay man I miss him and what he stood for. Thank you Everett for championing Civil Rights. The world is better today as a rsult of your work.