Emancipation Hall, newly built as part of our nation’s Capitol Visitor Center, is 20,000 square feet. People will gather in the room when they visit the Capitol and will be told how slaves helped construct the building in the 1800’s. Representative Zach Wamp, (R-Tenn) along with Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr., D-Ill., co-sponsored the bill in the House and Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., sponsored it in the Senate. Lucky Rosenbloom has been instrumental at keeping this issue and the dedication of the hall on the front burner both at the Minnesota legislature and Senator Coleman’s office. The president signed the measure in December 2007. We patiently await the day of dedication and recognition for those slaves who helped build our nation’s Capitol.

Minnesota Representative, Carol McFarlane, (R-53B), joined HSRA students who had questions for Senator Coleman and were recognized by him for their role in passing this historic legislation. The conference was recorded for The Fo-Show which airs Sunday mornings on B96 (96.3FM) and via the web at http://www.thefoshow.com/.