Cory Booker Shatters Record For Longest Senate Speech In Marathon Session In Protest Of Donald Trump

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) shattered a nearly 68-year record this evening, as he spoke on the Senate floor for 24 hours and 19 minutes to protest President Donald Trump‘s tenure.

Booker started at 7 p.m. ET on Monday and has held the floor since then. His marathon has been broken up only by Senate colleagues who he has given time to pose questions, a move that does not yield the floor.

The previous record was held by Sen. Strom Thurmond in 1957, who spoke for 24 hours, 18 minutes to try to block civil rights legislation.

The symbolism of a Black senator surpassing Thurmond, a supporter of racial segregation, was noted by Booker and a number of his colleagues.

As he neared the record, Booker recalled late Rep. John Lewis, the civil rights icon who talked of stirring up “good trouble” to make an impact.

His voice still booming, Booker said, “We cannot act as if these were normal times.”

The moment was carried by MSNBC, but Booker’s marathon drew extensive attention across social media.