Cory Booker Holds Down the Senate Floor

By keely aouga

By the evening of Apr. 1, 2025, Senator Cory Booker, 55, was standing on the Senate floor for over 24 hours protesting President Donald Trump.

He could not eat, sleep, sit or use the restroom during the entirety of his speech, which lasted 25 hours and five minutes.

The senator's time beat Sen. Strom Thurmond, who filibustered in 1957 for 24 hours and 18 minutes to oppose the Civil Rights Act.

Significance

By breaking Thurmond's record, Booker demonstrated the importance of the Civil Rights Act and how it allowed him to be able to stand on that floor as a Black man.

Booker started his speech at 7 p.m. Mar. 31 to disrupt "the normal business of the United States Senate."

He used the time to criticize the policies President Trump has implemented in his second White House term.

Republican Party

Additionally, Booker criticized the Republican party's spending cuts, asking them to question their overall direction.

In order to stay standing for 25 hours, the senator had to mentally and physically prepare. 

Booker told reporters that he dehydrated himself beforehand and he stopped eating days before he began his speech.

Democrats Looking Forward

The senator's history-making speech invigorated a new sense of momentum and energy in the Democratic party following the 2024 elections.

"[T]here’s a lot of people out there asking Democrats to do more," Booker said. "[A] lot of us have to do a lot more, including myself."

Click below for a quick and informative Black history lesson.

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