[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1528 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1528

 Honoring the life and recognizing the accomplishments of civil rights 
                       leader J.L. Chestnut, Jr.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 3, 2008

  Mr. Davis of Alabama submitted the following resolution; which was 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Honoring the life and recognizing the accomplishments of civil rights 
                       leader J.L. Chestnut, Jr.

Whereas J.L. Chestnut Jr., was born on December 16, 1930, in Selma, Alabama, and 
        attended Talladega College and Howard University School of Law;
Whereas in 1958, J.L. Chestnut Jr., returned to his hometown and began practice 
        as the first African-American lawyer in Selma;
Whereas during the 1960s, J.L., Chestnut Jr., served as an advisor, strategist 
        and participant in efforts led by civil rights leaders, including the 
        late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to seek racial justice in 
        Alabama;
Whereas J.L. Chestnut, Jr., was present at the Edmund Pettus Bridge on ``Bloody 
        Sunday,'' March 7, 1965, when the police attempted to prevent 
        demonstrators from beginning the historic march from Selma to 
        Montgomery;
Whereas J.L. Chestnut, Jr., successfully argued critical civil rights cases, 
        leading to the rights of African-Americans to serve on juries in Dallas 
        County, to desegregate Selma public schools, and, in 1999, to provide 
        relief to farmers who were discriminated against by the United States 
        Department of Agriculture;
Whereas the life story of J.L. Chestnut Jr., is outlined in his memoir, ``Black 
        in Selma: The Uncommon Life and Times of J.L. Chestnut, Jr.; and
Whereas the community of Selma has lost a beloved son with passing of J.L. 
        Chestnut, Jr., on September 30, 2008, at the age of 77: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses its condolences to the surviving family of 
        J.L. Chestnut, Jr., his wife Vivian, three daughters, three 
        sons, sister, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; 
        and
            (2) honors the life of J.L. Chestnut Jr., a recognized 
        leader and powerful advocate for justice and equality.
                                 <all>