Washington DC: US Senator Cory Booker has delivered the longest speech in Senate history, speaking for 25 hours and four minutes in a symbolic protest against US President Donald Trump.
The New Jersey Democrat’s marathon address, which he described as a response to a “grave and urgent” moment in American history, delayed legislative proceedings in the Republican-controlled Senate.
Although not classified as a filibuster—a speech intended to obstruct a bill—Booker’s address required him to remain standing without bathroom breaks. His speech surpassed the previous record of 24 hours and 18 minutes set by Republican Senator Strom Thurmond in 1957 during his opposition to the Civil Rights Act.
Booker, 55, began his speech around 7:00 PM on Monday and concluded at 8:06 PM on Tuesday, filling time by reading letters from constituents affected by Trump’s policies, discussing sports, reciting poetry, and taking questions from fellow Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senators Dick Durbin and Kirsten Gillibrand.
The former presidential candidate also reflected on his heritage, noting his ancestry included both slaves and slave-owners. Referencing Thurmond’s 1957 speech, Booker declared, “As powerful as he was, the people are more powerful.”
As he reached the milestone, Booker humorously acknowledged his physical endurance, stating he needed to “deal with some of the biological urgencies I’m feeling.”
The Democratic Party, currently in the minority, rallied behind his efforts. Booker’s speech is the longest in the Senate since Ted Cruz’s 21-hour filibuster in 2013 against Obamacare.
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