Unfortunately, the elimination of incentives such as parole, good time credits and funding for college courses, means that fewer inmates participate in and excel in literacy, education, treatment and other development programs.

The Federal prison population has increased more than 7-fold over the past 20 years.

The destinies of the two races in this country are indissolubly linked together, and the interests of both require that the common government of all shall not permit the seeds of race hate to be planted under the sanction of law.

No one should be denied the opportunity to get an education and increase their earning potential based solely on their inability to pay for a college education.

Rather than following through on the proven crime and violence prevention techniques that work, we are back to tough-talking sound byte policies that have been proven to not only fail to reduce crime but actually increase crime, waste taxpayers' money and discriminate against minorities.

We can continue our progress as a Nation toward the promise that all people are created equal and that our Nation will treat every person in that spirit.

So, the struggle for equal educational opportunity continues.