[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 442 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 442

 Apologizing to the victims of lynching and their descendants for the 
          Senate's failure to enact anti-lynching legislation.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 29, 2004

   Ms. Landrieu (for herself and Mr. Allen) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Apologizing to the victims of lynching and their descendants for the 
          Senate's failure to enact anti-lynching legislation.

Whereas the crime of lynching succeeded slavery as the ultimate expression of 
        racism in the United States following Reconstruction;
Whereas lynching was a common practice in the United States until the middle of 
        the 20th century;
Whereas lynching was a crime that occurred throughout the Nation, with 
        documented incidents in all but 4 States;
Whereas at least 4,749 people, predominantly African-Americans, were reported 
        lynched in the United States between 1881 and 1964;
Whereas 99 percent of all lynch mob perpetrators escaped any form of punishment 
        from State or local officials;
Whereas lynching prompted African-Americans to form the National Association for 
        the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and prompted members of B'nai 
        B'rith to found the Anti-Defamation League;
Whereas nearly 200 anti-lynching bills were introduced in Congress during the 
        first half of the 20th century;
Whereas between 1890 and 1952, 7 Presidents petitioned Congress to end lynching;
Whereas between 1920 and 1940, the House of Representatives passed 3 strong 
        anti-lynching measures;
Whereas protection against lynching was the minimum and most basic of Federal 
        responsibilities, yet the Senate failed to enact anti-lynching 
        legislation despite repeated requests by civil rights groups, 
        Presidents, and the House of Representatives;
Whereas until the recent publication of ``Without Sanctuary: Lynching 
        Photography in America'', the victims of lynching have never been 
        properly acknowledged;
Whereas only by coming to terms with its history can the United States 
        effectively champion human rights abroad; and
Whereas an apology offered in the spirit of true repentance moves the Nation 
        toward reconciliation and may become central to a new understanding upon 
        which improved racial relations can be forged: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) apologizes to the victims and survivors of lynching for 
        its failure to enact anti-lynching legislation;
            (2) expresses its deepest sympathies and most solemn 
        regrets to the descendants of victims of lynching whose 
        ancestors were deprived of life, human dignity, and the 
        constitutional protections accorded all other citizens of the 
        United States; and
            (3) remembers the history of lynching, to ensure that these 
        personal tragedies will be neither forgotten nor repeated.
                                 <all>