IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1088 

Urging the Secretary of the Interior to approve the designation of James 

Weldon Johnson Park in Jacksonville, Florida, as part of the National 

Park Service’s African American Civil Rights Network. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 18, 2020 

Mr. LAWSON of Florida (for himself, Ms. NORTON, Ms. SHALALA, Ms. 

CLARKE of New York, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. 

KENNEDY, Mr. FOSTER, Mr. RASKIN, Ms. FUDGE, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. 

CARSON of Indiana, Ms. LEE of California, Ms. JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. 

MEEKS, Mrs. DEMINGS, Mr. SOTO, Ms. MOORE, Mr. CRIST, Mr. KILDEE, 

Ms. PINGREE, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. NADLER, Mr. VELA, 

Mr. PAYNE, Ms. BASS, and Ms. CASTOR of Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 

RESOLUTION 

Urging the Secretary of the Interior to approve the designation of James Weldon Johnson Park in Jacksonville, 

Florida, as part of the National Park Service’s African 

American Civil Rights Network. 

Whereas August 27, 1960, was the largest civil rights demonstration in Jacksonville, Florida, history; 

Whereas several brave activists—many teenagers—hosted a 

sit-in at a Jacksonville Whites-only lunch counter, where 

they endured verbal and physical abuse from White customers; 


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•HRES 1088 IH 

Whereas after weeks of peaceful lunch counter protests, a violent backlash occurred; 

Whereas Jacksonville NAACP President Rutledge Pearson, 

Jacksonville Youth Council NAACP member Rodney 

Hurst, and other community activists fought for social 

injustice by demonstrating at James Weldon Johnson 

Park; 

Whereas rioters planted and passed out ax handles and began 

brutally beating the demonstrators on what is now known 

as Ax Handle Saturday; 

Whereas it was reported that authorities stood idly by, leaving citizens and the peaceful protestors comprised of 

young students defenseless in the face of the violent mob; 

Whereas the activists confronted racist laws and discriminatory practices, and risked their lives and reputations at 

James Weldon Johnson Park, to dismantle Jim Crow 

policies; 

Whereas there are only a small number of living protesters 

still alive, including, Spencer Meeks, Rodney Hurst, Marjorie Meeks Brown, and Patricia Pearson; and 

Whereas this year is the 60-year anniversary of Ax Handle 

Saturday: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses support for the designation of 

3 James Weldon Johnson Park as part of the National 

4 Park Service’s African American Civil Rights Net5 work in Jacksonville, Florida; and 

6 (2) recognizes that— 


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•HRES 1088 IH 

1 (A) James Weldon Johnson Park stood at 

2 the center of the 1960s race riots in Jackson3 ville, Florida, where ax handles were used to 

4 beat African Americans who were attempting to 

5 desegregate lunch counters; and 

6 (B) designating James Weldon Johnson 

7 Park as part of the National Park Service’s Af8 rican American Civil Rights Network will mark 

9 the day of the Ax Handle Saturday attack as 

10 a reminder of what happened and honor those 

11 who stood up for justice. 

Æ 


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