LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of civil rights and labor
pioneer Dr. Annie B. Martin

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Annie Martin died on Tuesday, June 12, 2012; she was a
longtime member of the Black Trade Unionists Association's National
Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Annie Martin was a tireless leader in the labor and civil
rights movements; she served 15 terms as the president of the New York
City Branch of NAACP and since 1993, sat on the NAACP National Board of
Directors; and
WHEREAS, A preeminent voice in the U.S. labor movement, Dr. Annie
Martin served with the New York City Central Labor Council as first vice
president of the Black Trade Unionists Leadership Committee, and as a
member of the New York City Coalition of Labor Union Women; in addition,
she served as state assistant commissioner of labor under Governors
Rockefeller, Wilson and Carey; and
WHEREAS, As secretary-treasurer of Local 8-138 Oil, Chemical and Atom-
ic Workers Union, Dr. Annie Martin was one of the first women to hold
high office in the labor movement; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Annie Martin was fearless as she was unwavering in her
love for the downtrodden; she was also an adjunct professor at Columbia,
Fordham and New York Universities; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Annie Martin's history in both movements dates to her
childhood; she was introduced as a young girl to A. Philip Randolph, an
associate of her father's and the founder of the International Brother-
hood of Sleeping Car Porters, as well as an architect of the 1963 march
on Washington; Dr. Martin said she understood from an early age the ties
between the rights of workers and the civil rights movement; and
WHEREAS, A native of Eastover, South Carolina, Dr. Annie Martin's long
and illustrious career in civil rights, labor and community affairs has
won her over 200 awards, including the honorary Doctor of Humane Letter
from Claflin College in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and she was one of
the first to receive the coveted national Ellis Island Medal of Honor;
in addition, she was the first to accept the Celebrate Africa Founda-
tion's Humanitarian Award and was notably recognized as a member of
Who's Who in Black America; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Annie Martin was Director of Labor Participation for the
American Red Cross in Greater New York; she was on duty seven days a
week after the terrorist attack on America on September 11, 2001, serv-
ing as the liaison between labor, the Red Cross along with the fire and
police departments; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina,
Dr. Annie Martin earned masters degrees in both social work and guid-
ance counseling from New York University; she was a proud and distin-
guished member of First African Methodist Episcopal Church: Bethel-Har-
lem; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Annie Martin distinguished herself in her profession and
by her sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the welfare of
her community; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Annie Martin's commitment to excellence, and her spirit
of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, including char-
itable and civic endeavors; and

WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Dr. Annie Martin leaves behind a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
she served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of civil rights and labor pioneer Dr. Annie B. Martin;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Dr. Annie B. Martin.