Booker in 2020. Photo by Gage Skidmore, via Wikipedia.
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
APRIL 4, 2025 | While our country waits in frustration for our Congress to take action to preserve our democracy, we were delighted and pleased to see at least one senator raise his voice against the Trump antics this week.
And raise his voice he did, as U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey spoke for a marathon 25 hours and five minutes protesting the efforts of the Trump Administration to drastically change our nation. It was the longest speech in the Senate’s history, breaking the record previously set by U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina of 24 hours, 18 minutes.
A senator can continue speaking uninterrupted on the floor of the Senate as long as they remain both standing and be physically present in the chamber. Booker, 55, periodically yielded to fellow Democrats for questions, but mostly kept talking the entire time. It was not considered a filibuster, since it did not stall a bill or nomination.
Some previous filibuster speakers have simply kept the floor by reading from a telephone book, or children’s literature. Not Booker. He delivered a coherent, powerful speech about the meaning of America and the ways in which the Trump regime is destroying our democracy.
He reminded the Senate that the late former Georgia Rep. John Lewis was famous for telling people to “get in good trouble, necessary trouble. Help redeem the soul of America,” as Lewis spoke out about civil rights. Booker said that in the years since Trump took office, he has been asking himself about Lewis: “How am I living up to his words?”
Booker said: “Tonight I rise with the intention of getting in some good trouble. I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able. I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our country is in crisis and I believe that not in a partisan sense,” he said, “because so many of the people that have been reaching out to my office in pain, in fear, having their lives upended—so many of them identify themselves as Republicans.”
Throughout his speech, Booker emphasized the power of the American people. He told their stories and read their letters. And he urged them to stand up for the country. “In this democracy,” he said, “the power of people is greater than the people in power.”
Amazingly, the senator stood for 25:05 hours in the well of the Senate, while never taking a restroom break. He said he had been told to wear comfortable shoes, and not drink much water. Like the former athlete he is, he prepared by stopping drinking water two days before.
We have for years anticipated Cory Booker would lead. He is a former mayor of Newark, who has been in the Senate since 2013, now the fourth-ranking Democrat in the Senate.
No other senators have spoken out like this. Other senators and representatives must admire his monumental protest. They should be ashamed that they have not stood up earlier to the many Trump moves that are dangerously threatening our nation.
When will the Republican members of Congress realize that the Trump threats to back a challenger for their seats in Congress is not worth laying down and saying nothing? How can these Republican members look themselves in the eye each morning, and not challenge this “would-be-king” Trump policies that need opposition?
Thanks, Senator Booker. We know you can look yourself in the eye now.
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