Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries honors Rep. Cleo Fields' return to Congress
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Congressman Cleo Fields was honored by his past Baton Rouge schools and the House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a symbolic ceremony welcoming him back to Congress.
'Twenty-eight years ago, I had to face yet another challenge, the challenge of having a district taken away from the very constituents that I served. Yet today I proudly stand before you reclaiming my time,' Fields said.
Fields lost his congressional district due to a court throwing it out over gerrymandering. He now returns in a newly drawn congressional district that he had a part in passing through the legislature. Despite the district facing legal challenges, Fields has stayed focused on getting what work he can get done in his two-year term.
Surrounded by hundreds of students and supporters in the Southern University Clark Activity Center, Fields was celebrated for his community work and decades-long political career while students shared their aspirations for the future.
'Just as the congressman is taking an oath to serve, we as students must commit to serving our schools, our communities, and ultimately our country,' McKinley Senior High School student Evan Mouzon said.
Congressman Cleo Fields to hold public meetings across Louisiana
House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries made the trip south to honor Fields in his first trip to Baton Rouge. He talked about how some may see the current political climate as a knockdown. He likened the political process to a flight on an airplane: to get to your destination there will be turbulence. He talked about how Fields would join him in the fight to ensure Black history is not erased.
'I just dropped by to let you know that with the leadership of Cleo Fields, I'm confident that we're going to be able to press on, press on for our children, press on for our seniors. Press on for our dreamers. Press on for our families. Press on for our veterans. Press on for working-class folks. Press on for the middle class. Press on for the poor. Press on for the sick…,' Jeffries said.
Fields talked about the Black men who came before him who fought for civil rights and to be elected to Congress. He said without them, he wouldn't be standing on that stage.
'It was their courage in the face of injustice and inequities that led to laid the groundwork for moments like this, reminding us that progress often comes through sacrifice, the sacrifices of countless others who fought on the right side of history and paved the way for people like me,' Fields said.
Fields officially took office in January.
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Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries honors Rep. Cleo Fields' return to Congress
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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