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.

IV 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. 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 fol- lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Re- sources RESOLUTION Urging the Secretary of the Interior to approve the designa- tion 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 dem- onstration 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 cus- tomers; VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:59 Sep 02, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1088.IH HR1088 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 1088 IH Whereas after weeks of peaceful lunch counter protests, a vio- lent 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, leav- ing citizens and the peaceful protestors comprised of young students defenseless in the face of the violent mob; Whereas the activists confronted racist laws and discrimina- tory 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, Mar- jorie 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 (1) expresses support for the designation of 2 James Weldon Johnson Park as part of the National 3 Park Service’s African American Civil Rights Net- 4 work in Jacksonville, Florida; and 5 (2) recognizes that— 6 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:59 Sep 02, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR1088.IH HR1088 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 1088 IH (A) James Weldon Johnson Park stood at 1 the center of the 1960s race riots in Jackson- 2 ville, Florida, where ax handles were used to 3 beat African Americans who were attempting to 4 desegregate lunch counters; and 5 (B) designating James Weldon Johnson 6 Park as part of the National Park Service’s Af- 7 rican American Civil Rights Network will mark 8 the day of the Ax Handle Saturday attack as 9 a reminder of what happened and honor those 10 who stood up for justice. 11 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:59 Sep 02, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR1088.IH HR1088 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS