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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Legal Defense Fund Advocacy Day is taking place on |
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April 23, 2025; and |
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WHEREAS, The first civil rights law organization in the |
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nation, LDF was founded in 1940 by legendary attorney Thurgood |
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Marshall, who later became the first Black U.S. Supreme Court |
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justice; the organization was initially a part of the NAACP, but it |
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began operating independently in 1957; and |
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WHEREAS, Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, |
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LDF has worked to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and |
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protect the constitutional and civil rights of all Americans, |
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especially Black people and other communities of color; today, the |
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organization continues to address key issues such as voting rights, |
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education equity, economic justice, and criminal justice reform; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, LDF has played an instrumental role in some of the |
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most significant legal victories in American history, including |
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Smith v. Allwright in 1944, which eliminated whites-only primary |
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elections in Texas, and Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, the |
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landmark Supreme Court decision that outlawed racial segregation in |
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public schools nationwide; in addition, the organization |
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represented leaders of the civil rights movement such as Dr. Martin |
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Luther King Jr. as well as countless grassroots activists, |
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resulting in litigation that overturned state-sanctioned |
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segregation of public buildings, parks and recreation facilities, |
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hospitals, and restaurants; more recently, the organization has led |
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efforts to restore and strengthen voting protections in the |
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aftermath of Shelby County v. Holder, the 2013 case that struck down |
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parts of the Voting Rights Act; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the past eight and a half decades, the Legal |
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Defense Fund has championed racial justice and equality, and it is a |
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pleasure to join in recognizing the organization for its many |
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contributions to the civil rights movement; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize April 23, 2025, as Legal Defense Fund |
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Advocacy Day and extend to all those affiliated with the |
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organization sincere best wishes for continued success in their |
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important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Legal Defense Fund as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Reynolds |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 912 was adopted by the House on May |
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23, 2025, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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