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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For 94 years, the El Paso Branch of the NAACP has |
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been a pioneering organization in the struggle for civil rights in |
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the State of Texas and throughout the United States; and |
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WHEREAS, Founded just six years after the national |
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organization began and the first branch to be established in the |
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Lone Star State, the El Paso NAACP was started by a group of |
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dedicated charter members, with Dr. Lawrence Aaron Nixon playing an |
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especially prominent role; an African American physician, Dr. Nixon |
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had moved to El Paso in 1909 after previously practicing in Cameron; |
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inspired to resist racial discrimination, he joined with other area |
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residents to form the city's NAACP branch in January 1915; William |
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Henderson became the first president; and |
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WHEREAS, In the 1920s, Dr. Nixon and the NAACP directed their |
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attention to the Terrell Election Law, which prohibited blacks from |
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voting in Democratic primary elections in Texas; after being denied |
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the right to cast a ballot in a 1924 primary, Dr. Nixon began legal |
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proceedings that resulted in two Supreme Court cases, Nixon v. |
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Herndon and Nixon v. Condon; he prevailed in both, and these court |
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rulings proved to be important steps in the expansion of voting |
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rights in the United States; and |
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WHEREAS, The El Paso Branch of the NAACP has benefited from |
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the contributions of many other dedicated members and the |
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leadership of a series of outstanding presidents; today, that |
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tradition continues under the direction of Harold E. Howell, who |
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has served as president since January 2008; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout the 20th century and into the 21st, the |
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El Paso Branch of the NAACP has been a tireless champion of social |
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justice, and the work of this esteemed organization will continue |
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to be a guiding force for social progress in the years ahead; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the history and achievements of the El |
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Paso Branch of the NAACP and extend sincere best wishes to its |
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members for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Chavez |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2996 was adopted by the House on June |
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1, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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