Statement from Congresswoman Barbara Lee on D-Day and the contributions of African Americans
In honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Normandy invasion, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) released this statement:
“As we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, we honor the African American men who risked their lives for freedoms denied to them in the United States. Two units – the Tuskegee Airmen and the 92nd infantry – were instrumental in the success of Normandy and the Allied advance. Known as the Buffalo Soldiers, the 92nd infantry was a segregated, all-black military unit – among them was my father, Lt. Col. Garvin A. Tutt.
“Seventy-five years ago, on June 6, 1944, the Allied forces landed in France to liberate the European continent from tyranny and oppression. These brave soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy from the ground, sea, and air, changing the world forever. Even in a time of segregation, these brave African American soldiers fought alongside their white peers. The Buffalo Soldiers risked their lives for the freedoms denied to many of them at home.
“African Americans have fought in every major military conflict in United States history, from the Revolutionary War through today’s conflicts in the Middle East. Without the brave contributions of the Buffalo soldiers and African-American men and women throughout our nation’s history, many of the victories that we honor and celebrate today would not have been possible.
“We thank all the men and women who fought in World War II, and we are forever thankful for their service and sacrifice. We also honor the men of the 92nd infantry who, even while fighting the oppression of segregation, defended our nation and contributed to victory for the U.S. and the Allied forces.”
View Congresswoman Lee's tweet about her father here.
###