[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 352 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                    September 16, 2003.
Whereas the first call for a march on Washington was initiated in 1941 by A. 
        Philip Randolph, President of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, 
        in response to the blatant discrimination that had become a constant 
        hardship in the lives of African-American workers;
Whereas in the spring and summer of 1963, more than 20,000 United States 
        citizens were arrested and detained while nonviolently protesting the 
        racial injustice that was widespread throughout the southern United 
        States at that time;
Whereas Randolph told President Kennedy that the African-American population was 
        going to march peacefully on Washington to demand their full and equal 
        constitutional rights in the face of severe civil rights violations and 
        harsh economic inequality;
Whereas in June of 1963 the ``Big Six'' civil rights leaders--Martin Luther 
        King, Jr., James Farmer, John Lewis, Whitney Young, Roy Wilkins, and A. 
        Philip Randolph--convened to plan a mass protest that would begin at the 
        Washington Monument and end in front of the Lincoln Memorial;
Whereas the march was initially termed the ``March on Washington for Jobs and 
        Freedom'', and aimed to advance support for a new Federal jobs program 
        and a higher minimum wage;
Whereas the Big Six expanded the focus of the march to include civil rights 
        injustices due to the disturbing events that had occurred in the months 
        prior to the march, such as police dogs attacking peaceful demonstrators 
        in Birmingham, the assassination of Medgar Evers in Jackson, and the 
        lack of congressional support for President Kennedy's civil rights bill;
Whereas Government officials were concerned about the outbreak of violence, but 
        many civil rights organizations held orientation meetings before the 
        march that taught and stressed the intrinsic non-violent principles of 
        the movement;
Whereas on August 28, 1963, people from throughout the country arrived in 
        Washington by plane, bus, train, and foot to express the urgent need for 
        forceful and immediate action on the issue of civil rights;
Whereas demonstrators pledged their commitment and continued participation in 
        the struggle for civil rights;
Whereas March leaders met with President Kennedy and Members of Congress to 
        discuss the importance and consequential impact of the pending civil 
        rights bill that aimed to end discrimination of African-Americans in the 
        work place, voting booth, educational facilities, and all other public 
        domains;
Whereas the demonstrators peacefully marched through the streets of the capital 
        and, at the Lincoln Memorial, heard empowering and inspiring words from 
        the Big Six leaders, as well as Walter Reuther, Rev. Eugene Blake 
        Carson, Rabbi Joachim Prinz, Matthem Ahmann, and Floyd McKissick;
Whereas police officers had their days of leave cancelled, suburban forces were 
        given special control training, and 15,000 paratroopers were put on 
        alert, but no Marchers were arrested or jailed and the march dispersed 
        without incident;
Whereas the March was one of the first events to be televised worldwide, and 
        thus brought international attention to the social and economic plight 
        of African-Americans;
Whereas 15 Senators and 60 Representatives attended the rally at the Lincoln 
        Memorial and witnessed the commitment of the demonstrators to the 
        struggle for domestic and universal human rights;
Whereas the March sparked the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the 
        Voting Rights Act of 1965;
Whereas the public display of humanity exhibited by the March educated the 
        public and helped to correct some of their misconceptions, and 
        demonstrated the possibility that an entire country could be changed 
        through non-violent protest; and
Whereas the 1963 March on Washington was the largest political demonstration in 
        United States history and proved to the nation that prejudice and 
        discrimination against African-Americans and other minorities could be 
        successfully fought by a collective force committed to the principles of 
        non-violence: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors the 1963 March on Washington as one of the largest 
        political demonstrations in United States history;
            (2) recognizes the monumental importance of the 1963 March on 
        Washington in the on-going struggle for civil rights and equal rights 
        for all Americans; and
            (3) extends its gratitude to the organizers and participants of the 
        1963 March on Washington for their dedication and commitment to equality 
        and justice.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.