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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 901 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 901

Recognizing November 14, 2009, as the 49th anniversary of the first day 
            of integrated schools in New Orleans, Louisiana.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 6, 2009

 Ms. Moore of Wisconsin (for herself, Mr. Kind, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Cao, 
    and Mr. Melancon) submitted the following resolution; which was 
 referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to 
    the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Recognizing November 14, 2009, as the 49th anniversary of the first day 
            of integrated schools in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Whereas, in 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that segregated schools violated the 
        Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment to the Constitution;
Whereas Judge J. Skelly Wright, of the United States District Court for the 
        Eastern District of Louisiana, ordered the Orleans Parish School Board 
        to develop a school desegregation plan in 1956 and, after years of 
        delay, in 1960, ordered the Orleans Parish School Board to carry out a 
        plan designed by the United States District Court for the Eastern 
        District of Louisiana;
Whereas 6 years after the Brown v. Board of Education (347 U.S. 483) decision, 
        on November 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges, at the age of 6, became the first 
        African-American student to attend the all-white William Frantz 
        Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana;
Whereas Ruby Bridges had the courage to attend the William Frantz Elementary 
        School every day during the 1960-61 school year despite ongoing riots 
        and protests in New Orleans, having to be escorted to school by Federal 
        marshals, and having no other students in her classroom;
Whereas Ruby Bridges was also supported by her white first-grade school teacher, 
        Ms. Barbara Henry, whose lessons remain with Ruby Bridges to this day;
Whereas Ms. Henry faced retaliation for teaching Ruby Bridges by not being 
        invited to come back and teach at William Frantz School following the 
        1960-61 school year;
Whereas, in 1995, Ruby Bridges contributed to ``The Story of Ruby Bridges'', a 
        book for children, and, in 1999, wrote ``Through My Eyes'' to help 
        educate children and people of all ages about her experiences and the 
        importance of tolerance;
Whereas Ruby Bridges established the Ruby Bridges Foundation in 1999 to help 
        eliminate racism and improve society by educating students about the 
        experiences of Ruby Bridges, discuss ongoing efforts to promote 
        diversity, and provide lessons students can take back to their own 
        communities; and
Whereas, in 2002, the Ruby Bridges Foundation, along with the Simon Wiesenthal 
        Center's Museum for Tolerance in Los Angeles, launched The Ruby's 
        Bridges Project, a program that brought together students from diverse 
        backgrounds to develop relationship-building skills and promote an 
        appreciation of one another: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the 49th anniversary of the first day of 
        integrated schools in New Orleans, Louisiana;
            (2) remembers Judge J. Skelly Wright for his advocacy, 
        support, and lifelong commitment to promoting civil rights, 
        fairness, and equality;
            (3) commends Ruby Bridges for her bravery and courage 49 
        years ago, and for her lifetime commitment to raising awareness 
        of diversity through improved educational opportunities for all 
        children;
            (4) supports policies and efforts to--
                    (A) close the achievement gap in the schools of our 
                Nation;
                    (B) improve the high school graduation rate for all 
                students;
                    (C) strengthen the ability of all students to 
                attend and complete post-secondary education; and
                    (D) promote the benefits of school integration 
                throughout the educational careers of students; and
            (5) congratulates all the individuals who have dedicated 
        their lives to the field of education and to promoting equal 
        opportunities for all students regardless of the backgrounds of 
        the students.
                                 <all>
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