III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 631 

Celebrating the history of the Detroit River with the 15-year commemoration 

of the International Underground Railroad Memorial Monument, comprised of the Gateway to Freedom Monument in Detroit, Michigan, 

and the Tower of Freedom Monument in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 6, 2016 

Mr. PETERS (for himself and Ms. STABENOW) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

RESOLUTION 

Celebrating the history of the Detroit River with the 15- 

year commemoration of the International Underground 

Railroad Memorial Monument, comprised of the Gateway 

to Freedom Monument in Detroit, Michigan, and the 

Tower of Freedom Monument in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. 

Whereas millions of Africans and their descendants were 

enslaved in the United States and the American colonies 

from 1619 through 1865; 

Whereas Africans forced into slavery were torn from their 

families and loved ones and stripped of their names and 

heritage; 


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•SRES 631 IS 

Whereas the faith and strength of character demonstrated by 

former slaves and the descendants of former slaves are 

an example for all people of the United States, regardless 

of background, religion, or race; 

Whereas tens of thousands of people of African descent 

bravely and silently escaped their chains to follow the 

perilous Underground Railroad northward towards freedom in Canada; 

Whereas the Detroit River played a central role for these passengers of the Underground Railroad on their way to 

freedom; 

Whereas in October 2001, the City of Detroit, Michigan, 

joined with Windsor and Essex Counties in Ontario, Canada, to memorialize the courage of these freedom seekers 

with an international memorial to the Underground Railroad, comprised of the Tower of Freedom Monument in 

Windsor, Ontario, and the Gateway to Freedom Monument in Detroit, Michigan; 

Whereas the deep roots that slaves, refugees, and immigrants 

who reached Canada from the United States created in 

Canadian society are a tribute to the determination of 

the descendants of those slaves, refugees, and immigrants 

to safeguard the history of the struggles and endurance 

of their forebears; 

Whereas the observance of the 15-year commemoration of the 

International Underground Railroad Memorial Monument 

was celebrated during the month of October 2016; 

Whereas the International Underground Railroad Memorial 

Monument represents a cooperative international partnership dedicated to education and research with the goal of 


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•SRES 631 IS 

promoting cross-border understanding, economic development, and cultural heritage tourism; 

Whereas over the course of history, the United States has become a symbol of democracy and freedom around the 

world; and 

Whereas the legacy of African-Americans and their fight for 

freedom is interwoven with the fabric of democracy and 

freedom in the United States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) celebrates the history of the Detroit River 

3 with a 15-year commemoration of the International 

4 Underground Railroad Memorial Monument, com5 prised of the Gateway to Freedom Monument in De6 troit, Michigan, and the Tower of Freedom Monu7 ment in Windsor, Ontario, Canada; and 

8 (2) supports the official recognition, by national 

9 and international entities, of the Detroit River as an 

10 area of historic importance to the history of the Un11 derground Railroad and the fight for freedom in 

12 North America. 

Æ 


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