Bill Text: NY J03286 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Resolution 3286 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Mourning the death of U.S. Representative John R. Lewis, civil rights leader and icon of American history

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 40-20)

Status: (Passed) 2020-07-22 - ADOPTED [J03286 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J03286-Introduced.html


Senate Resolution No. 3286

BY: Senator STEWART-COUSINS

        MOURNING  the death of U.S. Representative John R.
        Lewis, civil rights  leader  and  icon  of  American
        history

  WHEREAS,  It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay homage to
a man of indomitable faith and  dedication  whose  purposeful  life  and
accomplishments  will  forever  stand  as a paradigm and inspiration for
others; and

  WHEREAS, With feelings of  deepest  regret,  this  Legislative  Body
records  the  passing  of John Robert Lewis who died on Friday, July 17,
2020, at the age of  80;  he  served  in  the  United  States  House  of
Representatives for Georgia's 5th congressional district from 1987 until
his death; and

  WHEREAS,  Born  on February 21, 1940, in Troy, Alabama, the third of
10 children of sharecroppers Willie Mae and Eddie Lewis, John  R.  Lewis
graduated  from  the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville,
Tennessee,  before  receiving  a  bachelor's  degree  in  religion   and
philosophy from Fisk University; and

  WHEREAS,  While  studying  at  Fisk University, John R. Lewis became
involved  in  the  civil  rights  movement  by  organizing  sit-ins   at
segregated  lunch counters, bus boycotts, and other non-violent protests
as part of the Nashville Student Movement; and

  WHEREAS, Dedicated to the movement, John R. Lewis  was  one  of  the
original  13  Freedom  Riders  who  rode  on  public transportation from
Washington, DC to New Orleans in an integrated fashion and was  arrested
many times, beaten and imprisoned; and

  WHEREAS,  In  1963,  as  Chairman  of  the of the Student Nonviolent
Coordinating Committee (SNCC), John R. Lewis  was  one  of  the  primary
organizers of the March on Washington and spoke at the March; and

  WHEREAS, Known as the "conscious of Congress", John R. Lewis was one
of  the most liberal congressmen to represent a Deep South district, and
over the course of 17 elections, he only once got less than  70  percent
of the vote when he received 69 percent in 1994; and

  WHEREAS,  Congressman John R. Lewis was Senior Chief Deputy Whip and
served on  the  Committee  on  Ways  and  Means;  among  the  successful
legislation  he  sponsored was the bill establishing the National Museum
of African American History and Culture; and

  WHEREAS, John R. Lewis spent his whole adult life  fighting  racism;
he  was  awarded  over 50 honorary degrees from prestigious colleges and
universities throughout the United States, including Harvard University,
Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton  University,
Duke  University,  Morehouse  College,  Clark-Atlanta University, Howard
University, Brandeis University, Columbia University,  Fisk  University,
and Troy State University; and

  WHEREAS,  Furthermore,  in  2011, President Barack Obama awarded him
the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian  honor;
and

  WHEREAS,  John  R.  Lewis  was  a  stalwart champion in the on-going
struggle to demand respect for the dignity  and  worth  of  every  human
being;  he  dedicated his entire life to non-violent activism and was an
outspoken advocate in the struggle for equal justice in America; and

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to give acclaim to
individuals of great character whose lives exemplify the highest  ideals
of humanity; and

  WHEREAS,  Predeceased  by his wife of 44 years, Lillian Miles Lewis,
John R. Lewis  is  survived  by  his  son,  John-Miles  Lewis;  and  six
siblings; as well as approximately 30 nieces and nephews; and

  WHEREAS,  In  appreciation of his life of commitment, dedication and
substantial contribution, it is the intent of this Legislative  Body  to
inscribe upon its records this tribute to the memory of Congressman John
R.  Lewis  that future generations may know and appreciate his admirable
character, his many benevolent deeds, and  the  respect  and  esteem  in
which he was held; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of U.S. Representative John R. Lewis, and to express its
deepest condolences to his family; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the family of U.S. Representative John R. Lewis.