2021 State of the Union address: on Civil Rights


Joe Biden: Madam Speaker, Madam Vice President--it's about time

Madam speaker, madam vice president. No president has ever said those words from this podium. No president has ever said those words, and it's about time.

[OnTheIssues note: President Biden opened his speech to the Joint Session of Congress by acknowledging the two leaders of the two chambers who site behind him at the podium -- Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Vice President Kamala Harris in her role as President of the Senate. In 2021, for the first time, both leaders were women.]

Source: 2021 State of the Union address Apr 28, 2021

Joe Biden: To all transgender Americans: your president has your back

I hope Congress will get to my desk the Equality Act to protect LGBTQ Americans. To all transgender Americans watching at home, especially the young people, who are so brave, I want you to know your president has your back.
Source: 2021 State of the Union address Apr 28, 2021

Tim Scott: Hear me clearly: America is not a racist country

A hundred years ago, kids in classrooms were taught the color of their skin was their most important characteristic--and if they looked a certain way, they were inferior. Today, kids again are being taught that the color of their skin defines them-- and if they look a certain way, they're an oppressor. Hear me clearly: America is not a racist country. It's wrong to try to use our painful past to dishonestly shut down debates in the present.
Source: Republican response to the 2021 State of the Union address Apr 28, 2021

  • The above quotations are from 2021 State of the Union address to Congress, plus the Republican response.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Civil Rights.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Joe Biden on Civil Rights.
  • Click here for more quotes by Kamala Harris on Civil Rights.
2020 Presidential contenders on Civil Rights:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Jul 04, 2022