Senate Resolution No. 3571

BY: Senator COMRIE

COMMENDING the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People upon the occasion of
celebrating its 109th Anniversary

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to honor 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 cultural pride; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
upon the occasion of celebrating its 109th Anniversary; and

WHEREAS, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People (NAACP) is the largest and oldest civil rights organization in
the Nation; for over a century, this vital organization has strived to
ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of
rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination; and

WHEREAS, After the Race Riot of 1908 in Springfield, Illinois, Henry
Moskowitz, Mary White Ovington, and William English Walling gathered in
New York City to discuss the urgent need for an effective civil rights
organization in the United States; and

WHEREAS, These three visionaries joined with a larger group
including W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Archibald Grimke, Mary
Church Terrell, Florence Kelley, Oswald Garrison Villard, and Charles
Edward Russell to form the NAACP on February 12, 1909; and

WHEREAS, The NAACP's history is one of relentless advocacy for
safeguarding the rights of African-Americans and other minority groups;
from championing voter registration and economic empowerment to
demanding equity in education, the NAACP has waged a tireless fight to
ensure the civil rights of all Americans; and

WHEREAS, Today, more than 500,000 people are members and supporters
of the NAACP throughout the United States and the world, serving as
strong advocates for civil rights in their communities, campaigning for
equal opportunity and conducting voter mobilization; and

WHEREAS, The success of the NAACP is in direct correlation to the
efforts of its members, whose involvement is, and always has been,
characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and
an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of
the organization and the community it serves; 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 recognized and applauded by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
upon the occasion of celebrating its 109th Anniversary; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People.