09/01/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/01/2026 18:13
WASHINGTON - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today went to the House floor to speak on "901 Day."
In his remarks, he said:
"Today we celebrate 901 Day - a day to celebrate Memphis, Tennessee, and the people who make our city what it is. 901 is more than an area code. It represents people who have never been afraid to stand up and demand better. In 1968, sanitation workers, AFSCME workers, in Memphis marched for dignity, fair wages, and the basic right to be treated with respect. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to Memphis to stand with those workers and tragically lost his life there. This history reminds us that progress has never simply been given to Memphis. We have fought for it.
"Now, with the gerrymandered redistricting effort that took away the vote of black voters and the large-scale ICE raid that was carried out this past weekend, we must fight harder.
"So yes, today we celebrate the history, the music, the culture, and the BBQ, but most importantly we celebrate the people - the generations of Memphians who refused to accept that things had to stay the way they were. And we carry that spirit forward.
"Happy 901 Day Memphis."
See the speech here.
# # #