Notes 70th anniversary of the historic Civil Rights executive order
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) took note of the 70th anniversary of the integration of the armed services by President Harry Truman’s Executive Order 9981 and made the following statement:
“It is a shameful part of our history that the African American men and women of our armed forces served in segregated units in World War II and returned from fighting abroad to a Jim Crow South of lynchings and other violence at the hands of men who refused to recognize their contribution or their dignity as human beings. Harry Truman read the reports of attacks on black servicemen and was so angry and determined to send a message that he created the President’s Committee on Civil Rights and, over the objections of senior military officials, took decisive action to implement its recommendation to integrate the armed services with the stroke of his pen. We’re fortunate to have had a man like Truman in the White House. His foresight 70 years ago was an early step toward a fairer society.”