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Senate Resolution 500
By: Senators Esteves of the 35th, Halpern of the 39th and Kemp of the 38th
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life and legacy of Jamila "Mary Ethel Dozier" Jones; and for other purposes.
1
WHEREAS, Jamila "Mary Ethel Dozier" Jones was born on June 5, 1944, in Montgomery,2
Alabama, a city deeply entrenched in the struggle for civil rights and social justice; and3
WHEREAS, by the age of nine, she had joined the NAACP youth group, where she learned4
the principles of equal rights, voter empowerment, civic leadership, and personal5
responsibility under the mentorship of Rosa Louise Parks; and6
WHEREAS, at the age of 11, she became an active advocate and participant in the7
Montgomery Bus Boycott, distributing leaflets and walking to school for 361 days, thereby8
contributing to the historic campaign against racial segregation; and9
WHEREAS, during a raid by Grundy County sheriffs at Highlander Folk School, she10
displayed remarkable courage by singing a new verse of "We Shall Overcome," which11
resonated throughout the nation and helped transform the song into one of America's most12
powerful anthems for civil rights and social justice; and13
S. R. 500
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WHEREAS, she continued her dedication to voter empowerment as a lead organizer for the
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Montgomery Youth Voter Registration Campaign, working closely with leaders such as15
James Bevel and James Orange to promote voter registration in Alabama; and16
WHEREAS, in the 1960s, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she founded the Vine City17
Community School and the Harambee Singers; she further discovered a new home for her18
community engagement and creative voice within the City of Atlanta's Department of Parks19
and Recreation, where she was instrumental in integrating performing and visual arts into20
recreational programs, empowering countless youth; and21
WHEREAS, she was a prominent leader at the Voices of the Civil Rights Movement22
Conference at the Smithsonian Institution, contributing significantly to the preservation and23
celebration of African American sacred and freedom songs; and24
WHEREAS, for over half a century, she remained a major cultural voice for freedom, justice,25
and voter empowerment, tirelessly singing, teaching, and speaking out against racism and26
inequities of all kinds.27
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body28
honor the life and legacy of Jamila "Mary Ethel Dozier" Jones, recognize her extraordinary29
contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, and commend her enduring impact on30
generations past, present, and future.31
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed32
to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the family of33
Jamila "Mary Ethel Dozier" Jones.34
S. R. 500
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