Senate Resolution 218--Honoring the Legacy of A. Philip Randolph and Saluting His Efforts on Behalf of the People of the United States for Form "A More Perfect Union"

Floor Speech

Mr. NELSON submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

S. Res. 218

Whereas A. Philip Randolph was born on April 15, 1889, and grew up in Jacksonville, Florida;

Whereas Mr. Randolph attended the Cookman Institute, one of the first high schools for African Americans in the United States, located in Jacksonville, Florida, and graduated valedictorian of his class in 1907;

Whereas Mr. Randolph was an inspirational person who demonstrated an unyielding struggle for human rights on behalf of marginalized groups in society;

Whereas Mr. Randolph was active in both the civil rights movement and the labor movement in the United States;

Whereas Mr. Randolph was a tireless and highly effective advocate for African-American rights during the 1930s and 1940s, focusing particularly on employment rights;

Whereas Mr. Randolph led the effort to organize the porters of the Pullman Company, one of the largest railroad car companies in the United States at that time;

Whereas Mr. Randolph founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, an organization that advanced the rights of African-American workers to dignity, respect, and a decent livelihood;

Whereas Mr. Randolph urged President Franklin Roosevelt to end employment discrimination against African Americans in the Federal Government;

Whereas, after the urging of Mr. Randolph, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802 (6 Fed. Reg. 3109) on June 25, 1941, declaring that ``there shall be no discrimination in the employment of workers in defense industries and in government because of race, creed, color, or national origin'' and established the Fair Employment Practices Commission to oversee that order;

Whereas Mr. Randolph urged President Harry Truman to end segregation in the Armed Forces of the United States;

Whereas, after the urging of Mr. Randolph, President Truman issued Executive Order 9981 (13 Fed. Reg. 4313) on July 26, 1948, declaring that ``[T]here shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin. This policy shall be put into effect as rapidly as possible, having due regard to the time required to effectuate any necessary changes without impairing efficiency or morale.'' and closed the segregated Marine Corps boot camp at Montford Point in Jacksonville, North Carolina;

Whereas Mr. Randolph was actively involved in the planning and organization of many civil rights efforts, including the prayer pilgrimage for freedom in 1957, the marches for school integration in 1958 and 1959, and the March on Washington in 1963;

Whereas Mr. Randolph was the first speaker of the day at the March on Washington on August 28, 1963, during which Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his famous ``I Have a Dream'' speech;

Whereas the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352; 78 Stat. 241), the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-110; 79 Stat. 437), and the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-284; 82 Stat. 73) are the fruits of the seeds that Mr. Randolph and others like him sowed many years before;

Whereas Mr. Randolph helped to found the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights;

Whereas Amtrak named one of its luxury sleeping cars, the Superliner II Deluxe Sleeper 32503, the ``A. Philip Randolph'' in honor of Mr. Randolph;

Whereas a bust in the likeness of Mr. Randolph stands in Union Station in Washington, DC, as a tribute to his work on behalf of African-American rail workers;

Whereas, in 1964, Mr. Randolph was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Lyndon Johnson;

Whereas the civil rights revolution was launched, in no small part, based on the efforts of Mr. Randolph and the work of statesmen like him; and

Whereas, upon the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington in 2013, it is fitting to honor the work of Mr. Randolph and his commitment to a better United States: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate honors the legacy of A. Philip Randolph and salutes his efforts on behalf of the people of the United States to form ``a more perfect union''.

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