(Columbia, SC) -- On October 14, 1994, President Clinton signed Public Law #103-360, designating the yet-to-be-constructed federal courthouse in Columbia, South Carolina in honor of Judge Matthew J. Perry, Jr.  That law was the first piece of legislation I introduced after being elected to Congress in 1992.

            Matthew J. Perry, Jr. was born into segregation not far from the Courthouse that now bears his name.  He went on to become South Carolina's pre-eminent civil rights attorney, which led to his appointment as the first African American federal judge from the Deep South and the first African American federal district judge in South Carolina.   

            My mother first took me to watch Matthew Perry as an NAACP attorney in a Sumter courtroom when I was a young boy to show me what I could be when I grew up.  Our paths crossed again when I was arrested during civil rights protests while a student at South Carolina State College and Attorney Perry represented me.  What I, and so many other South Carolinians touched by his unflinching pursuit of justice, learned from this gentle man was inspiring and life changing. 

            Matthew Perry is a humble man who would never seek recognition for his extraordinary contributions to civil rights, the legal profession, South Carolina, and our nation.  But I knew that given the opportunity, I would insure that his legacy would be preserved in an enduring way so future generations could learn from this great man just as I have. As the first African American elected to Congress from South Carolina since Reconstruction, I was granted that opportunity and fought doggedly to have this federal courthouse named in his honor. 

            When I introduced the legislation in 1993, then South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond objected because he and others wanted the new facility to bear his name.  Some called me foolhardy for going against the senior Senator's wishes, but my tenacity paid off and the late Senator Thurmond eventually agreed to support my bill. 

            On Friday, April 23, 2004, I had the distinct honor of joining Judge Matthew Perry and judges, lawyers and friends from across the country in Columbia to dedicate the Matthew J. Perry Jr. United States Courthouse.  This dedication was one of the proudest moments in my career.  It represented the culmination of a long, hard road, but one that I treasure because it was a labor of love.

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