AJR115: Joint Resolution Text

LRB-4341/1

SRM:eev:rs

2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE

2013 Assembly JOINT RESOLUTION 115

March 14, 2014 - Introduced by Representatives C. Taylor, Spiros, Barnes, Goyke, Kessler, Berceau, Bewley, Genrich, Hintz, Hulsey, Kolste, Mason, Milroy, Ohnstad, Pasch, Sargent, Sinicki, Young, Zamarripa, Hebl and Wachs, cosponsored by Senators Harris, Lehman, Risser and Lassa. Referred to Committee on Rules.

AJR115,1,2 Relating to: recognizing and commending the 1964 Freedom Summer voter registration campaign and the contributions of Wisconsin residents.

AJR115,1,6 Whereas, 2014 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the 1964 Freedom Summer movement, where individuals from across the country, including many students from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, converged in Mississippi and other southern states to register African Americans to vote; and

AJR115,1,10 Whereas, the Freedom Summer voter registration campaign was in response to the historic disenfranchisement of African Americans, who were prevented from voting by a variety of tactics including beatings and lynchings, poll taxes, and literacy tests; and

AJR115,1,13 Whereas, the Freedom Summer campaign was targeted at supporting the right of African Americans to vote and towards establishing civil rights through the ballot box; and

AJR115,2,3 Whereas, dozens of Wisconsin residents worked or volunteered in peaceful, nonviolent civil rights activities during Freedom Summer and in the years both before and after; and

AJR115,2,6 Whereas, Wisconsinites peacefully served as Freedom School teachers, Freedom Riders, legal counsel, clergy, archivists, and voter registrars, all towards the cause of securing civil rights through voting for African Americans; and

AJR115,2,11 Whereas, former University of Wisconsin-Madison student Andrew Goodman and his two college-aged colleagues were killed for their advocacy and efforts to register African Americans to vote, and many more Wisconsin individuals often risked their safety in order to nonviolently challenge the denial of voting rights to African Americans; and

AJR115,2,14 Whereas, the Freedom Summer campaign brought increased attention across the United States and the world to the abuses perpetrated on African Americans, and helped secure passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; now, therefore, be it

AJR115,2,19 Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin state legislature do hereby recognize the brave actions of the Wisconsin men and women who joined the civil rights movement and participated in Freedom Summer and commends their service and dedication to securing voting rights and civil rights for African Americans.

AJR115,2,20 (End)