--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have my rights, not because of…" description: "\"I have my rights, not because of Washington suddenly deciding, Strom Thurmond and others, \"Hey, let's give certain Americans equal rights.\" But because..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/cory-booker-2546_equal_i-have-my-rights-not-because-of-washingt_1657061.jpg" --- # I have my rights, not because of Washington suddenly… ![“I have my rights, not because of Washington suddenly deciding, Strom Thurmond and others, "Hey, let's give certain Americans equal rights." But because of the ardent, unyielding voice of protesters.” quote by Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/cory-booker-2546_equal_i-have-my-rights-not-because-of-washingt_1657061.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/cory-booker-2546_equal_i-have-my-rights-not-because-of-washingt_1657061.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/cory-booker-2546_equal_i-have-my-rights-not-because-of-washingt_1657061.jpg) > “I have my rights, not because of Washington suddenly deciding, Strom Thurmond and others, "Hey, let's give certain Americans equal rights." But because of the ardent, unyielding voice of protesters.” [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rights are earned through persistent protest, not top‑down decisions. **In simple terms:** Protest fuels rights. Key Takeaway Support grassroots activism. Themes justice activism civil rights Mood determined hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - voting rights protests - racial equality campaigns - policy advocacy Key Concepts democratic participation social movements Questions to Reflect On - How can protests sustain momentum? - What allies amplify protest impact? A Different Perspective Change can be slow despite protest pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Equal rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-rights/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights Ardent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-ardent-716572/) [Rights Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-washington-716571/) [Strom Thurmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strom-thurmond/) [Voice Protesters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice-protesters-716570/) ## Related quotes > [Strom Thurmond, the former segregationist candidate for president was the Republican Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1986 and he tried to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/strom-thurmond-the-former-segregationist-candidate-for-president-was/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [If Strom Thurmond could get 30% of the black vote, any Republican can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-scott/if-strom-thurmond-could-get-30-of-the-black-vote-any-republican-can/) [Tim Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-scott/) > [Strom Thurmond the only segregationist anyone can name. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party had former Klansmen, members of a terrorist group that was lynching and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/strom-thurmond-the-only-segregationist-anyone-can-name-meanwhile-the/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Trent Lott has regained a position of leadership. He was the former majority leader who lost his post for racially insensitive commentary. I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/trent-lott-has-regained-a-position-of-leadership-he-was-the-former/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Now the Democrats control the Senate. But the good news is that now the Republicans can admit that Strom Thurmond has been dead since 1988.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/now-the-democrats-control-the-senate-but-the-good-news-is-that-now/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Despite his infirmities, Strom Thurmond showed up to work every day and did not miss a Senate vote in his final year, though no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/despite-his-infirmities-strom-thurmond-showed-up-to-work-every-day/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [“This election is about the past vs. the future. It's about whether we settle for the same divisions and distractions and drama that passes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/this-election-is-about-the-past-vs-the-future-it-s-about-whether-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to say this about my state. When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-lott/i-want-to-say-this-about-my-state-when-strom-thurmond-ran-for/) [Trent Lott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-lott/) > [I was the only person of color in the Senate, and my colleagues were Strom Thurmond, Jesse Helms and Trent Lott.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-moseley-braun/i-was-the-only-person-of-color-in-the-senate-and-my-colleagues-were/) [Carol Moseley Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-moseley-braun/) > [In 1948, northern liberals inserted a civil rights plank into the national Democratic platform, prompting a walkout of Southern delegations - which then coalesced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kornacki/in-1948-northern-liberals-inserted-a-civil-rights-plank-into-the/) [Steve Kornacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kornacki/) > [The history of woman is the history of the continued and universal oppression of one sex by the other. The emancipation of woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-celeste-claflin/the-history-of-woman-is-the-history-of-the-continued-and-universal/) [Tennessee Celeste Claflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-celeste-claflin/) > [The equal rights of man and the happiness of every individual are now acknowledged to be the only legitimate objects of government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-equal-rights-of-man-and-the-happiness-of-every-individual-are-now/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I certainly embrace all the movement that's going on these days about equality for women and equal rights. In general, I would apply that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/i-certainly-embrace-all-the-movement-that-s-going-on-these-days-about/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [While we welcome people of all faiths in America we cannot be so naive as to expect all countries to do the same. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-huffington/while-we-welcome-people-of-all-faiths-in-america-we-cannot-be-so/) [Michael Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-huffington/) > [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) ## More by Cory Booker > [We've got to get back to a country that can get things done. And my whole career has been marching and charging at and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/we-ve-got-to-get-back-to-a-country-that-can-get-things-done-and-my/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [If you want the things people don't have, you have to do the things other people will not do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/if-you-want-the-things-people-don-t-have-you-have-to-do-the-things/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [“Deterrents properly placed can help. But that is not enough. We are one society, and as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/deterrents-properly-placed-can-help-but-that-is-not-enough-we-are-one/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [Speaking as somebody who voted against TPA and has a lot of suspicions about Trans Pacific Partnership that are reflected in our concerns about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/speaking-as-somebody-who-voted-against-tpa-and-has-a-lot-of/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [ I love talking about the challenges \[Newark, NJ\] has because of the way they are always brilliantly disguised as opportunities.. .the biggest global challenge… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/i-love-talking-about-the-challenges-newark-nj-has-because-of-the-way/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [If Donald Trump governs the way he campaigned, it'll be a disastrous presidency. This is a chance for him to be magnanimous, humble. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/if-donald-trump-governs-the-way-he-campaigned-it-ll-be-a-disastrous/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [To me, feminism is believing in women's equality, and I ardently ascribe to that belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/to-me-feminism-is-believing-in-women-s-equality-and-i-ardently/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [I live in Brick Towers, a public housing project in Newark's Central Ward. I moved in when the projects were privately owned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/i-live-in-brick-towers-a-public-housing-project-in-newark-s-central/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [“I celebrate ideals of individual excellence, self-reliance, and personal responsibility… But rugged individualism alone did not get us to the moon. It did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/i-celebrate-ideals-of-individual-excellence-self-reliance-and/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [The history in our country speaks to our highest values of people who did not accept things as they are and go along with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/the-history-in-our-country-speaks-to-our-highest-values-of-people-who/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [My dad set a clear model for me for what manhood was all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/my-dad-set-a-clear-model-for-me-for-what-manhood-was-all-about/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [Can you every single day tell a true testimony of who you are? That's really what life is about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/can-you-every-single-day-tell-a-true-testimony-of-who-you-are-that-s/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [2016 is an election like I've never seen before. And I think it reflects the fact that many people have a dissatisfaction with politics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/2016-is-an-election-like-i-ve-never-seen-before-and-i-think-it/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [I do not believe that marijuana is a gateway drug, and having been a mayor trying to keep my community safe, if there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/i-do-not-believe-that-marijuana-is-a-gateway-drug-and-having-been-a/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [Any Democrat running is trying to get that Barack Obama coalition, which is an increasingly diverse voter base. It's young folks. 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