Senator Cory Booker made history on April 1, 2025, delivering the longest speech ever given on the Senate floor. The New Jersey Democrat spoke for 25 hours and 5 minutes, only breaking to allow his fellow Democrats to ask questions. Not once did he eat, use the bathroom, or sit down. He used his marathon address to protest President Trump’s policies and delay the confirmation of Matthew Whittaker as U.S. ambassador to NATO.
The speech shattered a decades-old record set by white segregationist Senator Strom Thurmond, a Southern Democrat, who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes in 1957 in an attempt to block the Civil Rights Act of 1957. The Act was the first major legislation concerning civil rights since the Civil War. It moved to establish a Civil Justice Department and barred any form of interference with people of all races’ right to vote.
Booker’s symbolic stand served as a pointed reversal of history: where Thurmond spoke in 1957 to oppose civil rights, Booker spoke to defend them. “Maybe my ego got caught up that maybe, maybe, just maybe, I could break this record of the man who tried to stop the rights upon which I stand,” Booker said.
Booker’s protest also highlights a long tradition of advocacy activism in the United States—the practice of supporting a cause through public speaking, writing, or lobbying. From Rosa Parks, the Greensboro Group, and the Freedom Riders in the 1960s to today’s legislative floor, acts of defiance have long been a part of the American civil rights story. Although those earlier figures fought explicitly for human rights and racial equality, Booker’s speech reflects a broader fight for justice and governmental accountability.
A filibuster is a long speech by a senator in Congress that is meant to block the passage of a new law that they (or their political party) oppose. The textbook definition means that Booker’s speech was technically not a filibuster. However, Booker’s speech utilized the same tactics to delay Senate proceedings. He used his time to criticize the Trump administration’s policies, warning of a “grave and urgent” catastrophe bound to emerge. He highlighted staff cuts, unchecked spending, and the human impact of those decisions. He read letters from constituents who had been negatively affected, underscoring the personal stakes of political decisions.
Booker filled in the remaining time with poetry, sports commentary, and moments of reflection, maintaining composure throughout. Unlike Thurmond, who took a bathroom break and consumed small amounts of food during his speech, Booker stood continuously, abstaining from food and water to ensure he could speak uninterrupted.
The juxtaposition between Thurmond and Booker is striking and ironic. One man used his voice to obstruct racial progress while the other used his to champion it. The symbolism of a black senator breaking a record set to suppress civil rights is not lost on observers.
America is a country of people of all races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, and religions. However, the implementation of slavery dating back to colonial times created a foundation of racism and white superiority in America. Leaders like Booker are helping to slowly break down this standard.
As America continues to evolve and wrestle with its legacy of inequality, it is important to advocate for one’s personal beliefs. As former Vice President Kamala Harris said, “The true measure of a leader is not based on who you beat down, but on who you lift up.” Senator Booker’s standing without rest during his historical speech, exemplifies a strong leader who stands for the democracy of the people of his country, rather than standing in the way of the people of his country like the record holder before him.
