Declare Black Lives Matter Day

Senate Resolution No. 3273 BY: Senator PARKER RECOGNIZING July 13, 2020, as "Black Lives Matter" Day WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize those significant movements which devote their purposeful energies to improving the quality and dignity of life of those they stand for and to preserving their heritage; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to recognize July 13, 2020, as "Black Lives Matter" Day; and WHEREAS, In 2013, three radical Black organizers, Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, created a Black-centered political will and movement building project called BlackLivesMatter; it was in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin's murderer, George Zimmerman; and WHEREAS, Most recently, the murder of 46 year-old George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25, 2020, reignited today's crusade; other Black victims who were tragically killed by police officers in

2020 include: Ahmaud Arbery, 25, Brunswick, Georgia, on February 23rd, and Breonna Taylor, 26, Louisville, Kentucky, on March 13th; and WHEREAS, "Black Lives Matter" Day is an important recognition of the systematic oppression of African-Americans in history; and WHEREAS, The principle objective of the BlackLivesMatter movement is to dismantle all systematic injustices against African-Americans; and WHEREAS, Remaining true to its mission, the BlackLivesMatter movement is steadfast in its fight for freedom, liberation and justice for African-Americans; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize the struggle of African-Americans to achieve racial equality dating back to the civil rights movement; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to recognize July 13, 2020, as "Black Lives Matter" Day.