SENATE RESOLUTION No. 1703
A RESOLUTION recognizing November 14, 2024, as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
in the State of Kansas.
WHEREAS, Kansas was at the epicenter of the landmark United States Supreme Court case,
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, which was decided on May 17, 1954, and handed down
the unanimous decision that racially segregated public schools violated the 14
th
Amendment; and
WHEREAS, The Kansas Senate and House of Representatives passed SR 1756 and HR 6047,
respectively, commemorating 2024 as the 70
th
anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision,
which made segregation in public schools illegal in the United States; and
WHEREAS, In its ruling, the Supreme Court of the United States determined that separate
educational facilities are inherently unequal and every citizen of the United States deserves equal
education; and
WHEREAS, Ruby Nell Bridges is an American activist who became a symbol of the civil rights
movement at age six when she was the youngest of a group of African American students designated to
integrate public schools; and
WHEREAS, On November 14, 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges attended all-white William Frantz
Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana, as the only African American student enrolled at the
school; and
WHEREAS, Artist Norman Rockwell celebrated Ruby Bridges' courage in 1964 with a painting of
Ruby's first day of school entitled "The Problem We All Live With," making Ruby Bridges the national
icon for desegregation; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Bridges established The Ruby Bridges Foundation in 1999 to promote "the
values of tolerance, respect and appreciation of all differences;" and
WHEREAS, Around November 14 of every year, students, staff and teachers across the country
honor Ms. Bridges and the courage it took to walk through the doors of William Franz Elementary School
in 1960 by participating in Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day; and
WHEREAS, Inspired by Ruby Bridges' story, the children of Kansas have invited her to Topeka,
Kansas, on November 14, 2024, to commemorate the 70
th
anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education,
which made her journey possible: Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas: That we recognize November 14, 2024, as Ruby
Bridges Walk to School Day in the State of Kansas; and
Be it further resolved: That we join the children of Kansas in inviting Ruby Bridges to Topeka,
Kansas, on November 14, 2024, to commemorate the 70
th
anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education;
and
Be it further resolved: That the Secretary of the Senate shall send an enrolled copy of this
resolution to Senator Faust Goudeau.
Senate Resolution No. 1703 was sponsored by Senator Oletha Faust Goudeau.
I hereby certify that the above RESOLUTION originated in the SENATE, and was adopted by that body
__________________________________________
___________________________________________
President of the Senate.
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Secretary of the Senate.