The advent of the civil rights movement during the 50s and 60s made it very plain crystal clear to me that we had an obligation to do what we could to make real the Constitution of the United States of America.

I would say to a young person: continue to study. Study what is taking place in your community, in your neighborhood, maybe at your school.

The civil rights movement was based on faith. Many of us who were participants in this movement saw our involvement as an extension of our faith. We saw ourselves doing the work of the Almighty. Segregation and racial discrimination were not in keeping with our faith, so we had to do something.

You cannot give up - you have to be persistent and keep pushing, and press on.

This man [ Donald Trump] won in an electoral landslide.

If someone had told me in 1963 that one day I would be in Congress, I would have said, 'You're crazy. You don't know what you're talking about.'

It's going to be very difficult. I don't see the president-elect [Donald Trump] as a legitimate president.