[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 660 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 660

Recognizing the courageous actions of Reverend Nat Turner in his fight 
  to abolish slavery and make the majestic words of the Jeffersonian 
Declaration of Independence, ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, 
that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator 
 with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, 
 and the pursuit of happiness'', apply to the enslaved, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            August 22, 2023

   Mr. Green of Texas submitted the following resolution; which was 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the courageous actions of Reverend Nat Turner in his fight 
  to abolish slavery and make the majestic words of the Jeffersonian 
Declaration of Independence, ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, 
that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator 
 with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, 
 and the pursuit of happiness'', apply to the enslaved, and for other 
                               purposes.

Whereas this resolution may be cited as the original resolution recognizing the 
        courageous actions of Reverend Nat Turner;
Whereas Reverend Nat Turner was born into slavery in Southampton County, 
        Virginia, in 1800;
Whereas after learning to read and write at a young age, Reverend Nat Turner 
        became a pastor who, because of his professed prophetic visions, was 
        dubbed ``The Prophet'';
Whereas at the age of 30, Reverend Nat Turner led one of the most significant 
        rebellions in American history on August 21, 1831;
Whereas the rebellion, also known as the Southampton Insurrection, demonstrated 
        the profound desire for freedom among enslaved persons;
Whereas in his efforts to liberate those in bondage from the crime against 
        humanity known as slavery, Reverend Nat Turner employed controversial 
        methods, ultimately taking the lives of more than 55 people for which he 
        was condemned and executed;
Whereas in retaliation for the Turner rebellion to free the enslaved, militia, 
        enslavers, and mobs murdered as many as 120 African Americans, both 
        enslaved and free;
Whereas also in retaliation, slave State legislatures passed laws to fortify 
        slavery by restraining rights of the enslaved to learn to read, write, 
        and assemble;
Whereas the Turner rebellion was a harbinger of war to come between slave States 
        and free States, the Civil War;
Whereas Reverend Nat Turner's actions inspired other acts of resistance among 
        enslaved human beings determined to realize the Jeffersonian unalienable 
        rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and kindled the 
        national debate concerning the injustices of slavery;
Whereas this debate contributed to the eventual abolition of slavery, a critical 
        step forward toward the realization of the noble Jeffersonian ideal of 
        all persons (enslavers and enslaved alike) being created equal and 
        endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, among them 
        life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and
Whereas this House recognizes that discussions about the freedom fighters such 
        as Reverend Nat Turner and John Brown must consider the historic 
        injustices and brutal conditions they were fighting against: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors the freedom fighter Reverend Nat Turner for his 
        courage and sacrifice in the face of brutal and systemic 
        injustice;
            (2) recognizes the contributions of Reverend Nat Turner to 
        the eventual abolition of slavery in the United States;
            (3) encourages continued study, understanding, and dialogue 
        about the complexities of the struggle for racial justice in 
        the United States, including the role of freedom fighters such 
        as Reverend Nat Turner;
            (4) reaffirms its commitment to the principles of noble 
        Jeffersonian ideal of all persons being created equal and 
        endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that 
        among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; 
        and
            (5) calls on the citizens of the United States to observe a 
        moment of reflection on Slavery Remembrance Day for all those 
        who suffered and died in the struggle against a great crime 
        against humanity, slavery.
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