[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1080 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1080

  Urging the Secretary of the Interior to approve the designation of 
  Hemming 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 11, 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 
  Hemming 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 Hemming 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 Hemming Park, to dismantle Jim 
        Crow policies;
Whereas there are only three survivors still alive, Spencer Meeks, Rodney Hurst, 
        and Marjorie Meeks Brown; 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 Hemming Park 
        as part of the National Park Service's African American Civil 
        Rights Network in Jacksonville, Florida; and
            (2) recognizes that--
                    (A) Hemming 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 Hemming 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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