Starting Monday evening and concluding Tuesday night, Democratic Senator Cory Booker delivers a record-breaking speech on the Senate floor. For 25 hours and 5 minutes, Booker spoke in protest against the Trump administration’s policies. Booker explained to reporters that he stopped eating on Friday and stopped drinking water the day before the speech in order to prepare for long duration without a bathroom break.
Prior to Brooker’s new record, Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina held the longest speech of more than 24 hours. This was carried out in 1957 as a filibuster with efforts to block civil rights legislation. Booker’s speech included the citing of the legacy of leaders such as civil rights activist John Lewis. Bookers referred to Lewis’ quote of getting into “good trouble.”
