[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 554 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 554

Recognizing the life and legacy of Richard (Dick) Gregory and honoring 
 his contributions to the civil rights movement and to American comedy.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 3, 2017

 Ms. Norton submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
            the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

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                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the life and legacy of Richard (Dick) Gregory and honoring 
 his contributions to the civil rights movement and to American comedy.

Whereas Dick Gregory was born on October 12, 1932, in St. Louis, Missouri, and 
        passed away on August 19, 2017, in the District of Columbia at the age 
        of 84;
Whereas Dick Gregory was an early civil rights pioneer, participating in sit-ins 
        and getting arrested numerous times throughout the South for the defeat 
        of segregation and for equal rights;
Whereas Dick Gregory was a passionate champion for voting rights and home rule 
        for the residents of the District of Columbia and in the 1960s was in 
        the forefront of the struggle that culminated in home rule for the 
        District of Columbia;
Whereas Dick Gregory moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1956 to begin his comedy 
        career after having served in the United States Army;
Whereas in 1959, Dick Gregory married Lillian Smith, with whom he had 11 
        children;
Whereas besides civil rights, Dick Gregory was an activist in numerous causes 
        over the course of his life, including the Vietnam War, the Equal Rights 
        Amendment, police brutality, South African apartheid, nuclear power, 
        prison reform, feminism, drug abuse, and Native American rights;
Whereas Dick Gregory authored a dozen books; and
Whereas Dick Gregory became one of the first African-American comedians to enjoy 
        crossover appeal to Blacks and Whites alike, using his talent to point 
        up the absurdity of racism and discrimination: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors the life and 
legacy of Richard (Dick) Gregory and acknowledges his contributions to 
civil rights, to multiple other causes for freedom and equality, and to 
American comedy.
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