Senate Resolution No. 1801

BY: Senator AKSHAR

COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of the
Broome-Tioga NAACP on February 12, 2022

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to those enduring organizations which devote their
purposeful energies to improving the quality and dignity of life of
those they serve, to preserving their heritage, and to fostering pride
among them; 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 Broome-Tioga NAACP on February
12, 2022; and

WHEREAS, The oldest and largest civil rights organization, the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was
founded in 1909, in New York City by a group of citizens committed to
improving the quality of life for African-Americans; and

WHEREAS, Among the early leaders of the NAACP was W.E.B. DuBois, who
helped establish the Niagara Movement in 1905; other early members
included Ida B. Wells, Archibald Grimke, Henry Moskowitz, Mary White
Ovington, Oswald Garrison Villard and William English Walling; and

WHEREAS, The 1920s was a decade of heightened Ku Klux Klan activity
across the United States, and its membership and activity flourished
throughout the cities of upstate New York; and

WHEREAS, During this time, the Pastor of Binghamton's AME Church was
beaten on a train from Albany, New York for not giving up his seat;
subsequently, a small group of African American citizens led by Fred
Hazel, a known fighter against racial injustice and head of the local
school, maintained communications with the national office of the NAACP
regarding the beating of a Black man and the civil suit that followed;
and

WHEREAS, On February 12, 1922, a branch of the NAACP was then
established by Fred Hazel in Binghamton, New York, with 54 charter
members; in 1992, this vital organization re-chartered to include all of
Broome County and neighboring Tioga County; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception a century ago, the Broome-Tioga NAACP
has continued to work with the State and National Office of the NAACP to
support its mission to realize justice for all people with a focus on
the historically disenfranchised and underrepresented; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, the organization continues to fight against
injustices in the local community, targeting its programming on economic
development and empowerment, engagement with local youth, educational
policy, civic engagement and participation, while maintaining a
membership exceeding 100 members with the national office; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Broome-Tioga NAACP, recognizing
its steadfast and unwavering commitment to the Southern Tier of the
State of New York, and to the advancement of the mission of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Broome-Tioga NAACP.