| 1 | 1 | | 25 LC 112 2976 |
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| 2 | 2 | | House Resolution 239 |
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| 3 | 3 | | By: Representatives Reese of the 140 |
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| 4 | 4 | | th |
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| 5 | 5 | | , Crawford of the 89 |
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| 6 | 6 | | th |
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| 7 | 7 | | , Olaleye of the 59 |
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| 8 | 8 | | th |
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| 9 | 9 | | , Jackson of |
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| 10 | 10 | | the 68 |
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| 11 | 11 | | th |
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| 12 | 12 | | , and Bell of the 75 |
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| 13 | 13 | | th |
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| 14 | 14 | | |
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| 15 | 15 | | A RESOLUTION |
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| 16 | 16 | | Commemorating the 116th Founders Day of the NAACP; and for other purposes. |
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| 17 | 17 | | 1 |
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| 18 | 18 | | WHEREAS, the Georgia NAACP proudly celebrates the legacy and enduring contributions2 |
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| 19 | 19 | | of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People3 |
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| 20 | 20 | | (NAACP) on its 116th Founders Day, recognizing their commitment to justice, equality, and4 |
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| 21 | 21 | | the upliftment of African Americans; and5 |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, the founding of the NAACP on February 12, 1909, marked a pivotal moment6 |
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| 23 | 23 | | in American history, sparked by a call for action led by Mary White Ovington, Oswald7 |
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| 24 | 24 | | Garrison Villard, William English Walling, and Dr. Henry Moscowitz, descendants of8 |
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| 25 | 25 | | abolitionists who sought to address the urgent need for racial justice in the United States; and9 |
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| 26 | 26 | | WHEREAS, these visionary leaders, alongside W. E. B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and10 |
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| 27 | 27 | | Mary Church Terrell, convened to unite diverse voices in the fight against racial11 |
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| 28 | 28 | | discrimination and inequality; and12 |
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| 29 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Mary White Ovington, a descendant of abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison,13 |
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| 30 | 30 | | and Oswald Garrison Villard, a descendant of the prominent journalist and abolitionist,14 |
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| 31 | 31 | | played key roles in founding the NAACP, committing themselves to the cause of civil rights15 |
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| 32 | 32 | | H. R. 239 |
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| 33 | 33 | | - 1 - 25 LC 112 2976 |
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| 34 | 34 | | and social justice as well as contributing to the organization's early activism and efforts to |
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| 35 | 35 | | 16 |
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| 36 | 36 | | combat racial injustice; and17 |
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| 37 | 37 | | WHEREAS, William English Walling and Dr. Henry Moscowitz, who called for the initial18 |
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| 38 | 38 | | meeting to address the racial violence and discrimination faced by African Americans,19 |
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| 39 | 39 | | helped catalyze the creation of an organization that would grow into one of the most20 |
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| 40 | 40 | | powerful advocates for civil rights in American history; and21 |
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| 41 | 41 | | WHEREAS, the contributions of W. E. B. Du Bois, a pioneering scholar and activist, and Ida22 |
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| 42 | 42 | | B. Wells-Barnett, a fearless anti-lynching crusader, were indispensable in the formation of23 |
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| 43 | 43 | | the NAACP, providing intellectual leadership and moral clarity in the struggle for racial24 |
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| 44 | 44 | | justice; likewise, Mary Church Terrell's advocacy for women's rights and African American25 |
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| 45 | 45 | | equality remains a cornerstone of the organization's foundational values; and26 |
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| 46 | 46 | | WHEREAS, throughout its storied history, the Georgia NAACP has been at the forefront of27 |
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| 47 | 47 | | advocating for civil rights, ensuring equitable access to education, healthcare, employment,28 |
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| 48 | 48 | | and housing as well as fostering political, social, and economic justice for all people29 |
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| 49 | 49 | | regardless of race; and30 |
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| 50 | 50 | | WHEREAS, through organizing protests, litigation, lobbying, and public education, the31 |
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| 51 | 51 | | Georgia NAACP has been instrumental in dismantling the structures of segregation and32 |
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| 52 | 52 | | discrimination, paving the way for future generations to continue the fight for racial justice33 |
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| 53 | 53 | | and equality; and34 |
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| 54 | 54 | | WHEREAS, as we mark the 116th Founders Day, we honor the resilience, courage, and35 |
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| 55 | 55 | | tireless efforts of those who have contributed to this movement, past and present, as well as36 |
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| 56 | 56 | | H. R. 239 |
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| 57 | 57 | | - 2 - 25 LC 112 2976 |
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| 58 | 58 | | renew our commitment to carrying forward their vision of a world in which all people can |
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| 59 | 59 | | 37 |
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| 60 | 60 | | live with dignity and without fear of discrimination; and38 |
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| 61 | 61 | | WHEREAS, the Georgia NAACP continues to stand resolutely against systemic racism and39 |
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| 62 | 62 | | injustice, advocating for transformative change in laws, policies, and institutions to create40 |
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| 63 | 63 | | a future of equal opportunity for all, regardless of race or background; and41 |
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| 64 | 64 | | WHEREAS, on this special day, we reflect on the ongoing need for the work of the NAACP,42 |
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| 65 | 65 | | recognizing both the progress made and the challenges that remain in achieving true racial43 |
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| 66 | 66 | | equality and justice in Georgia and across the nation.44 |
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| 67 | 67 | | NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that45 |
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| 68 | 68 | | the members of this body commemorate the 116th Founders Day of the NAACP in honor of46 |
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| 69 | 69 | | the vision, perseverance, and leadership of those who laid its foundation as well as recommit47 |
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| 70 | 70 | | to advancing the cause of civil rights for all people in Georgia and beyond.48 |
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| 71 | 71 | | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized49 |
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| 72 | 72 | | and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the50 |
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| 73 | 73 | | public and the press.51 |
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| 74 | 74 | | H. R. 239 |
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| 75 | 75 | | - 3 - |
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