[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 168 (Tuesday, November 10, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S11350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 350--RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER 14, 2009, AS THE 49TH 
  ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST DAY OF INTEGRATED SCHOOLS IN NEW ORLEANS, 
                               LOUISIANA

  Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself and Ms. Landrieu) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 350

       Whereas, in 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that segregated 
     schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th 
     amendment to the Constitution;
       Whereas Judge J. Skelly Wright, of the United States 
     District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, ordered 
     the Orleans Parish School Board to develop a school 
     desegregation plan in 1956 and, after years of delay, in 
     1960, ordered the Orleans Parish School Board to carry out a 
     plan designed by the United States District Court for the 
     Eastern District of Louisiana;
       Whereas 6 years after the Brown v. Board of Education (347 
     U.S. 483) decision, on November 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges, at 
     the age of 6, became the first African-American student to 
     attend the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New 
     Orleans, Louisiana;
       Whereas, in 1995, Ruby Bridges contributed to ``The Story 
     of Ruby Bridges'', a book for children, and, in 1999, wrote 
     ``Through My Eyes'' to help educate children and people of 
     all ages about her experiences and the importance of 
     tolerance;
       Whereas Ruby Bridges established the Ruby Bridges 
     Foundation in 1999 to help eliminate racism and improve 
     society by educating students about the experiences of Ruby 
     Bridges, discuss ongoing efforts to promote diversity, and 
     provide lessons students can take back to their own 
     communities; and
       Whereas, in 2002, the Ruby Bridges Foundation, along with 
     the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Museum for Tolerance in Los 
     Angeles, launched The Ruby's Bridges Project, a program that 
     brought together students from diverse backgrounds to develop 
     relationship-building skills and promote an appreciation of 
     one another: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes November 14, 2009, as the 49th anniversary 
     of the first day of integrated schools in New Orleans, 
     Louisiana;
       (2) remembers Judge J. Skelly Wright for his advocacy, 
     support, and lifelong commitment to promoting civil rights, 
     fairness, and equality;
       (3) commends Ruby Bridges for her bravery and courage 49 
     years ago, and for her lifetime commitment to raising 
     awareness of diversity through improved educational 
     opportunities for all children;
       (4) supports policies and efforts to--
       (A) close the achievement gap in the schools of our Nation;
       (B) improve the high school graduation rate for all 
     students;
       (C) strengthen the ability of all students to attend and 
     complete post-secondary education; and
       (D) promote the benefits of school integration throughout 
     the educational careers of students; and
       (5) congratulates all the individuals who have dedicated 
     their lives to the field of education and to promoting equal 
     opportunities for all students regardless of the backgrounds 
     of the students.

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