[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 248 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 248

 Condemning the brutal killing of Mr. James Byrd, Jr., and commending 
  the Community of Jasper, Texas for the manner in which it has come 
                         together in response.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 15, 1998

    Mrs. Hutchison (for herself, Mr. Gramm, and Ms. Moseley-Braun) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Condemning the brutal killing of Mr. James Byrd, Jr., and commending 
  the Community of Jasper, Texas for the manner in which it has come 
                         together in response.

Whereas Mr. James Byrd, Jr., of Jasper, Texas, was brutally murdered on June 6, 
        1998;
Whereas since this heinous tragedy, the citizens of Jasper, from all segments of 
        the community, have come together to condemn the killing and honor the 
        memory of Mr. Byrd;
Whereas the Sheriff of Jasper County, Billy Rowles, spoke for the community when 
        he appealed that the Nation not ``label us because of this random, 
        brutal act'';
Whereas Mr. and Mrs. James Byrd, Sr., called for ``justice and peace'', asking 
        that ``we . . . get this over and put this behind us''; and
Whereas the community's response reflects the spirit that other communities 
        across the Nation have shown in the face of recent incidents of random 
        and senseless violence: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) condemns the actions which occurred in Jasper, Texas as 
        horrific and intolerable, to be rejected by all Americans;
            (2) expresses its deepest condolences to the Byrd family 
        for their loss and the pain it caused;
            (3) notes the strong religious faith of the Byrd family, 
        under the inspired leadership of James Sr., and Stella Byrd, 
        and the Reverend Kenneth Lyons, Pastor of the Greater New 
        Bethel Baptist Church, that has helped the family through this 
        most trying time;
            (4) sees in the Byrd family reaction to this tragedy the 
        inspiration for hope, peace, and justice in Jasper and 
        throughout the United States;
            (5) commends the leadership shown by Jasper County Sheriff 
        Billy Rowles, City of Jasper Mayor R.C. Horn, and other 
        community leaders in responding to this tragedy;
            (6) urges that law enforcement officials at all appropriate 
        levels continue with the full and fair investigation into all 
        of the facts of the case; and
            (7) urges prosecutors to proceed with a fair and speedy 
        trial to bring the perpetrators of this outrageous crime to 
        justice.
                                 <all>