Members of Congress Join Hands to Sing ‘We Shall Overcome’

A rare moment took place on Capitol Hill Tuesday.

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Congressional leaders posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress’ highest honor, to Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Afterward, the congress members joined hands and sang a harmonious rendition of “We Shall Overcome” to honor the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. C-SPAN captured the footage of seven Senate and House leaders as they joined hands, swayed and crooned, “We shall live in peace, someday” at the front of the room, facing the rest of the congress members and other attendees.

It seems as though a few members, however, including Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), may have forgotten the words. The two—along with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), before finding his note—are shown in an awkwardly silent swaying motion in the video.

Still, this commemorative singing was a nice change of pace from the usual gridlock in Congress.

See more at C-SPAN.