HLS 23RS-2762 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 94
BY REPRESENTATIVE KNOX
CONDOLENCES: Expresses condolences on the death of Kenneth "Biggy" Johnston
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To express the condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Kenneth
3 "Biggy" Johnston.
4 WHEREAS, it is with immense sadness and profound regret that the Legislature of
5Louisiana has learned of the death of Kenneth "Biggy" Johnston; and
6 WHEREAS, Mr. Johnston was drafted to serve his country during the Vietnam War,
7and upon his return to Louisiana, he and many of his fellow Vietnam veterans struggled with
8post-traumatic stress disorder and substance addiction; and
9 WHEREAS, Biggy's addiction struggles continued until his incarceration at
10Louisiana State Penitentiary in 1974; while incarcerated, he educated himself on the legal
11and court systems with the goal of assisting individuals in navigating the court system with
12various matters including filing petitions against nonunanimous jury convictions; and
13 WHEREAS, Biggy cofounded the Angola Special Civics Project with Norris
14Henderson, and in 1990, the group worked with the Legislature of Louisiana to pass Act
15No. 790, which created the first "lifer parole" law; and
16 WHEREAS, Biggy was released as a result of the project he helped start, and he
17found employment as a paralegal in New Orleans; in 2003 the Angola Special Civics Project
18was reconvened outside of prison, under the new moniker "Voice of the Experienced"
19(VOTE), to organize, educate, and mobilize those impacted by the state's incarceration
20policies; and
Page 1 of 2 HLS 23RS-2762 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 94
1 WHEREAS, more than a decade later, in 2016, Biggy was named the lead plaintiff
2in VOTE v. Louisiana; the lawsuit sought to restore voting rights for tens of thousands of
3Louisianians; and
4 WHEREAS, Biggy played an even more pivotal role in the passage of Act No. 636
5of the 2018 Regular Session of the Legislature, which restored the voting rights to people
6on probation and those on parole for over five years, including himself; and
7 WHEREAS, Biggy participated in the Non-Unanimous Jury Coalition, which helped
8win the passage of an amendment to the state constitution ending the practice under which
9he was convicted; he lived to see VOTE establish three chapters, massively increase its staff,
10open multiple reentry house locations, play a pivotal role in criminal justice reform, receive
11national recognition, launch the Formerly Incarcerated Transition Clinic, and purchase its
12own facility; and
13 WHEREAS, Kenneth "Biggy" Johnston leaves to cherish his memory his VOTE
14family, his peer support group, his loving siblings, and his children; he was a genuinely kind,
15generous, and cheerful man who, despite his small stature, possessed more than enough heart
16to justify his nickname; he will be deeply missed but certainly never forgotten.
17 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
18express heartfelt condolences on the death of Kenneth "Biggy" Johnston and does hereby
19extend sincerest wishes that his family, friends, and loved ones find comfort in their shared
20memories of his beautiful life.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 94 Original 2023 Regular Session Knox
Expresses the condolences of the legislature on the death of Kenneth "Biggy" Johnston.
Page 2 of 2