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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 650
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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recognize the ninth anniversary of the installation of the |
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19th-Century Black Legislators' Monument at the Texas State |
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Cemetery; and |
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WHEREAS, In March of 2010, the Texas State Cemetery honored |
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the 52 African American men who served in the Texas Legislature |
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or participated in Texas constitutional conventions, or both, in |
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the years following emancipation; and |
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WHEREAS, At the close of the Civil War, cities in Texas |
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enforced codes to restrict the rights of African Americans; the |
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federal government intervened to remove the restrictions, and |
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between 1867 and 1900, 52 African American Texans worked to help |
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structure the state's laws and constitution; and |
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WHEREAS, These pioneering statesmen represented a variety |
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of backgrounds, experiences, and occupations; they strived to |
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safeguard voting rights and educational opportunities, and they |
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worked to reform the prison system, end railroad car segregation |
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and the poll tax, and protect both skilled and agricultural |
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workers; they lost their voice once again around the turn of the |
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century, when discriminatory laws were reinstated to exclude |
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African American citizens from political life; and |
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WHEREAS, The installation of the 19th-Century Black |
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Legislators' Monument began with the research of Larry Thomas, |
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who went on to serve as the monument's project director; those |
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honored by the monument provided a courageous voice during a |
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tumultuous period in our history, and their contributions to our |
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state will not be forgotten; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize the significance of the |
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19th-Century Black Legislators' Monument at the Texas State |
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Cemetery and extend appreciation to all who contributed to the |
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monument's creation and installation; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as a |
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tribute to all who participated in this special project. |
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Watson |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on April 29, 2019. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |