IV 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 615 
Celebrating the goals and ideals of the first International Day for People 
of African Descent, particularly the principle that ‘‘all human beings 
are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the potential 
to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their 
societies’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 31, 2021 
Ms. LEE of California (for herself, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. 
CARSON, Ms. NORTON, Mr. EVANS, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Ms. WIL-
LIAMS of Georgia, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. MOORE of Wis-
consin, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. BASS, Mr. RUSH, and Mr. DAVID 
SCOTT of Georgia) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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 
Celebrating the goals and ideals of the first International 
Day for People of African Descent, particularly the prin-
ciple that ‘‘all human beings are born free and equal 
in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute 
constructively to the development and well-being of their 
societies’’. 
Whereas the International Day for People of African Descent 
will be celebrated for the first time on August 31, 2021; 
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•HRES 615 IH 
Whereas the United Nations has created this observance via 
Resolution 75/170 in an effort to ‘‘promote the extraor-
dinary contributions of the African diaspora around the 
world and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against 
people of African descent’’; 
Whereas the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 
2015–2024 as the International Decade for People of Af-
rican Descent focused on the goals of recognition, justice, 
and development; 
Whereas worldwide, as many as 1.6 billion people identify 
themselves as part of the worldwide African Diaspora, in-
cluding as many as 200 million in the Americas; 
Whereas, as many as 67 percent of residents of the Carib-
bean are of African descent; 
Whereas, as many as 46.8 million people in the United States 
identify themselves as Black or African American, and 
have continually made important contributions to the po-
litical, economic, and sociocultural development of our 
Nation; 
Whereas W.E.B. Du Bois, famed American sociologist, activ-
ist, and co-founder of the National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People, is credited with defining 
the concept of the African Diaspora; 
Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic exposed the intersectional 
and 
compounded 
forms 
of 
racial 
discrimination, 
marginalization, and exclusion experienced by people of 
African descent; 
Whereas the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and 
other African Americans in the United States catalyzed 
people around the world to protest racism and prompted 
a global reckoning on racial justice; 
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•HRES 615 IH 
Whereas, on June 19, 2020, the United Nations Human 
Rights Council adopted by consensus Resolution 43/1 on 
the ‘‘Promotion and protection of the human rights and 
fundamental freedoms of Africans and people of African 
descent against excessive use of force and other human 
rights violations by law enforcement officers’’; 
Whereas pursuant to that resolution, United Nations High 
Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet re-
leased a report on systemic racism and police brutality 
against Africans and people of African descent at the 
hands of law enforcement around the world, which exam-
ined such cases in 62 countries including the United 
States; 
Whereas that report acknowledges the ‘‘stark socioeconomic 
and political marginalization’’ experienced by people of 
African descent in communities around the world as a re-
sult of persistent racial discrimination and structural in-
equalities; 
Whereas the report establishes a four-point agenda toward 
transformative change for racial justice and equality and 
calls on member states to— 
(1) reverse cultures of denial, dismantle systemic 
racism, and accelerate the pace of action; 
(2) end impunity for human rights violations by law 
enforcement officials and close trust deficits in this area; 
(3) ensure that the voices of people of African de-
scent and those who stand up against racism are heard 
and that their concerns are acted upon; and 
(4) acknowledge and confront legacies, including 
through accountability and redress; 
Whereas High Commissioner Bachelet stated on July 12, 
2021, that there is ‘‘an urgent need to confront the leg-
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