Bill Text: NY J02896 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the American Civil Liberties Union

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-02-27 - ADOPTED [J02896 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J02896-Introduced.html

Senate Resolution No. 2896

BY: Senator THOMAS

        COMMEMORATING   the   100th   Anniversary  of  the
        American Civil Liberties Union

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize  that
the  quality  and  character  of life in the communities across New York
State are reflective of the concerned and  dedicated  efforts  of  those
patriotic  organizations  and  individuals  who devote themselves to the
welfare of the community and its citizenry; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the American Civil Liberties Union,
to be celebrated at their Centennial Gala on March 31, 2020, in New York
City; and

  WHEREAS, The American Civil Liberties Union, commonly referred to as
the ACLU, was founded in 1920 with the  stated  mission  to  defend  and
preserve  the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person
in this country by the laws and constitution of the United States; and

  WHEREAS, Upon its founding, the organization  made  reaching  people
who  were historically denied constitutional protections a priority; the
ACLU has promoted  the  rights  of  immigrants,  LGBTQ  citizens,  union
organizers, women, and people of color; and

  WHEREAS,  The  ACLU  has  been  instrumental  in many historical and
impactful events, such as winning workers the right to organize in 1939,
protecting Japanese-Americans during the internment camp period in World
War II, and facilitating the expansion of civil rights by assisting  the
NAACP  in  eliminating  race-based  discrimination;  the  ACLU  has also
assisted in promoting Native American rights and the rights of religious
people; and

  WHEREAS, The ACLU is known for defending the rights of controversial
groups, showing Americans and New Yorkers they will defend the rights of
all people,  regardless  of  how  they  use  those  rights;  this  vital
organization  truly  embodies  the  American  commitment  to  freedom of
speech, embodied in the quote by Evelyn Beatrice Hall, "I disapprove  of
what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"; and

  WHEREAS,  Today, the ACLU is continuing its century-long work with a
plethora of active cases relating to the rights of immigrants, the LGBTQ
population, individuals with disabilities and the rights  of  prisoners;
and

  WHEREAS, Under the able leadership of President Susan N. Herman, the
ACLU steadfastly protects Americans' civil liberties and rights, and has
chapters  in every state with a total membership of 1.84 million people;
and

  WHEREAS, The New York  Civil  Liberties  Union,  commonly  known  as
NYCLU,  founded  in  1951  with more than 160,000 members, has also been
impactful in the areas of civil rights and liberties; NYCLU,  under  the

luminous  direction  of  President  Robin  Willner, works to protect New
Yorkers' privacy, their due process  rights,  and  their  rights  to  be
treated equally under the law; and

  WHEREAS, NYCLU is led by President Robin Willner, who has had a long
and prosperous career of service to others in the non-profit setting, in
government, and in the charitable departments of corporations; and

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to call attention
to organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union, which serve
to  bring  people  together  for the united purpose of actively pursuing
improvements in their communities; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the American Civil Liberties Union;
and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  copies  of  this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to   Susan  N.  Herman,  President  of  the  American  Civil
Liberties  Union,  and  Robin  Willner,  President of the New York Civil
Liberties Union.
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