LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 99th Birthday of American civil
rights activist pioneer Bayard Rustin, and paying tribute to his life
and accomplishments

WHEREAS, From time to time we take note of certain individuals whom we
wish to recognize for their valued contributions and to publicly
acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among
us all; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 99th Birthday of American civil rights activist pioneer Bayard
Rustin, and paying tribute to his life and accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, Bayard Rustin was born on March 17, 1912, in West Chester,
Pennsylvania; he was an American civil rights activist, important large-
ly behind the scenes in the civil rights movement of the 1960s and
earlier; he is credited as the chief organizer of the 1963 March on
Washington for Jobs and Freedom; and
WHEREAS, In February of 1956, when Bayard Rustin arrived in Montgomery
to assist with the nascent bus boycott, Martin Luther King, Jr. had not
personally embraced nonviolence; in fact, armed guards were posted at
Dr. King's doors; and
WHEREAS, Bayard Rustin soon persuaded boycott leaders to adopt
complete nonviolence, teaching them Gandhian nonviolent direct protest;
and
WHEREAS, Bayard Rustin counseled Martin Luther King, Jr. on the tech-
niques of nonviolent resistance; he became an advocate on behalf of gay
and lesbian causes in the latter part of his career; homosexuality was
criminalized at the time, which made him a target of suspicion and
compromised some of his effectiveness; and
WHEREAS, During the early 1970s, Bayard Rustin served on the board of
trustees of the University of Notre Dame; throughout the 1970s and
1980s, he worked as a human rights and election monitor for Freedom
House; he also testified on behalf of New York State's Gay Rights Bill;
and
WHEREAS, Bayard Rustin died on August 24, 1987; an obituary in THE NEW
YORK TIMES reported, looking back at his career, Mr. Rustin, a Quaker,
once wrote: "The principal factors which influenced my life are nonvio-
lent tactics; constitutional means; democratic procedures; respect for
human personality; and a belief that all people are one."; now, there-
fore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 99th Birthday of American civil rights activist pioneer
Bayard Rustin, and pay tribute to his life and accomplishments.