[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1088 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1088

  Urging the Secretary of the Interior to approve the designation of 
  James Weldon Johnson Park in Jacksonville, Florida, as part of the 
     National Park Service's African American Civil Rights Network.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            August 18, 2020

Mr. Lawson of Florida (for himself, Ms. Norton, Ms. Shalala, Ms. Clarke 
 of New York, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Kennedy, 
 Mr. Foster, Mr. Raskin, Ms. Fudge, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Carson of Indiana, 
 Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mr. Meeks, Mrs. Demings, 
 Mr. Soto, Ms. Moore, Mr. Crist, Mr. Kildee, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Danny K. 
 Davis of Illinois, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Vela, Mr. Payne, Ms. Bass, and Ms. 
   Castor of Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Urging the Secretary of the Interior to approve the designation of 
  James Weldon Johnson Park in Jacksonville, Florida, as part of the 
     National Park Service's African American Civil Rights Network.

Whereas August 27, 1960, was the largest civil rights demonstration in 
        Jacksonville, Florida, history;
Whereas several brave activists--many teenagers--hosted a sit-in at a 
        Jacksonville Whites-only lunch counter, where they endured verbal and 
        physical abuse from White customers;
Whereas after weeks of peaceful lunch counter protests, a violent backlash 
        occurred;
Whereas Jacksonville NAACP President Rutledge Pearson, Jacksonville Youth 
        Council NAACP member Rodney Hurst, and other community activists fought 
        for social injustice by demonstrating at James Weldon Johnson Park;
Whereas rioters planted and passed out ax handles and began brutally beating the 
        demonstrators on what is now known as Ax Handle Saturday;
Whereas it was reported that authorities stood idly by, leaving citizens and the 
        peaceful protestors comprised of young students defenseless in the face 
        of the violent mob;
Whereas the activists confronted racist laws and discriminatory practices, and 
        risked their lives and reputations at James Weldon Johnson Park, to 
        dismantle Jim Crow policies;
Whereas there are only a small number of living protesters still alive, 
        including, Spencer Meeks, Rodney Hurst, Marjorie Meeks Brown, and 
        Patricia Pearson; and
Whereas this year is the 60-year anniversary of Ax Handle Saturday: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses support for the designation of James Weldon 
        Johnson Park as part of the National Park Service's African 
        American Civil Rights Network in Jacksonville, Florida; and
            (2) recognizes that--
                    (A) James Weldon Johnson Park stood at the center 
                of the 1960s race riots in Jacksonville, Florida, where 
                ax handles were used to beat African Americans who were 
                attempting to desegregate lunch counters; and
                    (B) designating James Weldon Johnson Park as part 
                of the National Park Service's African American Civil 
                Rights Network will mark the day of the Ax Handle 
                Saturday attack as a reminder of what happened and 
                honor those who stood up for justice.
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