Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SR148 Compare Versions

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1	1	2023S0088-1 02/03/23
2	2	By: West S.R. No. 148
3	3
4	4
5	5	SENATE RESOLUTION
6	6	WHEREAS, The Texas Senate takes great pleasure in
7	7	recognizing Mrs. Opal Lee, the "Grandmother of Juneteenth," who
8	8	is being honored at the Texas Capitol on February 8, 2023, at a
9	9	special event to celebrate the unveiling of her portrait, which
10	10	will be placed on permanent display in the Senate Chamber; and
11	11	WHEREAS, Commissioned by the Texas Senate and created by
12	12	native Texas artist Jess W. Coleman, the portrait of Mrs. Opal
13	13	Lee honors her remarkable life and achievements and commemorates
14	14	the indelible mark her contributions have made in the history of
15	15	our great state and nation; and
16	16	WHEREAS, A native Texan born in Marshall and raised in Fort
17	17	Worth, Mrs. Opal Lee was inspired from an early age to seek to
18	18	better the world around her and to become an advocate for social
19	19	justice and civil rights; rising above many of the challenges of
20	20	racial oppression, she embarked on a career in education, and she
21	21	became a tireless champion for civil rights and an esteemed
22	22	community leader whose positive impact is recognized throughout
23	23	the nation and has been acknowledged around the globe; and
24	24	WHEREAS, In 2016, at the age of 89, Mrs. Opal Lee launched
25	25	a campaign to create a wider awareness across the country about
26	26	the meaning of Juneteenth, the annual day commemorating the end
27	27	of slavery in Texas; Mrs. Lee began observing the June 19 holiday
28	28	while she was still a young girl living in Marshall, and for
29	29	decades, she has organized events in Fort Worth in celebration of
30	30	Juneteenth; and
31	31	WHEREAS, Mrs. Opal Lee long dreamed of making the annual
32	32	observance of Juneteenth in Texas into a national holiday, and in
33	33	her efforts to achieve this goal, she spoke to the media and
34	34	numerous groups about her cause and gathered one-and-a-half
35	35	million signatures on a petition that she delivered to the United
36	36	States Congress; and
37	37	WHEREAS, In 2021, Mrs. Opal Lee accomplished her mission
38	38	when legislation designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday was
39	39	passed; she joined President Joe Biden at the White House to
40	40	witness the signing of the Juneteenth legislation, and with this
41	41	historic achievement, the nation gained its first new federal
42	42	holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was signed into law in
43	43	1983; and
44	44	WHEREAS, Long admired for her exceptional contributions to
45	45	her community and state, Mrs. Lee has created an enduring legacy
46	46	in the State of Texas and in the nation; in 2022, she was
47	47	nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by 33 members of the United
48	48	States Congress in recognition of her outstanding efforts in
49	49	gaining national recognition for Juneteenth; and
50	50	WHEREAS, Mrs. Opal Lee's steadfast dedication to a vision
51	51	of liberty and justice is a source of tremendous inspiration to
52	52	all, and it is indeed fitting that a portrait of her be displayed
53	53	permanently in the Senate Chamber at the Texas Capitol; now,
54	54	therefore, be it
55	55	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
56	56	Legislature, hereby pay tribute to Mrs. Opal Lee and extend to
57	57	her its sincere respect, admiration, and appreciation; and, be it
58	58	further
59	59	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in
60	60	honor of this very special occasion.