Democrat Cory Booker breaks 1957 record by speaking for more than 24 hours in the Senate

Cory Booker, the Democratic senator from New Jersey, delivered an exceptional marathon speech of more than 24 hours to “disrupt the normal business of the United States Senate”.

By doing so, he beat a record that dated back to 1957.

He began his long speech at 7pm on Monday, March 31st to warn against the dangers posed by the Donald Trump administration, both for democracy and for the American people. 

He stated: «I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our nation is in crisis».

From the beginning of his speech, Booker announced that he would disrupt the usual procedure of the United States Senate “for as long as he is physically able”.

The senator pointed out that Donald Trump had already caused serious harm to Americans, and that these times could no longer be considered normal.

He added that he could no longer let the situation continue without intervening and trying to change things.

Booker insisted that the threats to American democracy are both serious and urgent.

Booker spent the evening, night and entire day of April 1st denouncing the prejudices caused by Trump through the signing of his executive orders.

In addition to conveying a message about the importance of democracy and freedom, the Democratic senator emphasized that «the power of the people is greater than that of those in power». He also reminded that the balance of the three branches of government was essential.

The record broken by Cory Booker is that of Senator Strom Thurmond, a staunch opponent of equal rights for African Americans, who had delivered a 24 hour and 18 minute speech. In 1957, to lead a filibuster against the Civil Rights Act of 1957. This filibuster aimed to prevent the adoption of the law, which aimed to protect the voting rights of African Americans. This record is now a thing of the past, shattered by an African American Senator.