Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis on Thursday applauded the history-making swearing-in of Ketanji Brown Jackson as the 116th U.S. Supreme Court justice and the first Black woman to serve on the nation’s highest court.

“This is a momentous day. I’m so proud to witness the history-making swearing-in of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Her ascent to the highest court breathes life into making real the constitutional promise of freedom, opportunity, and justice for all people.

Justice Jackson’s swearing-in comes at a pivotal moment as we face unprecedented, coordinated attempts to roll back the rights won by those who sacrificed and struggled before us. We desperately need her perspective and her voice on the Supreme Court.

Today, as we celebrate the well-earned achievement of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and all that she represents, let us also draw inspiration from this moment to renew our fight for the soul of our nation and its true promise.

In Houston and across the nation, Justice Jackson will be honored as one of the brave and bold Black women – including Harriet Tubman, Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, Shirley Chisolm and Barbara Jordan – who persevered in the face of bigotry, oppression and sexism to forge the path we walk today.”