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 fol-
lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Re-
sources 
RESOLUTION 
Urging the Secretary of the Interior to approve the designa-
tion 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 dem-
onstration 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 cus-
tomers; 
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•HRES 1088 IH 
Whereas after weeks of peaceful lunch counter protests, a vio-
lent 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, leav-
ing citizens and the peaceful protestors comprised of 
young students defenseless in the face of the violent mob; 
Whereas the activists confronted racist laws and discrimina-
tory 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, Mar-
jorie Meeks Brown, and Patricia Pearson; and 
Whereas this year is the 60-year anniversary of Ax Handle 
Saturday: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) expresses support for the designation of 
James Weldon Johnson Park as part of the National 
Park Service’s African American Civil Rights Net-
work in Jacksonville, Florida; and 
(2) recognizes that— 
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•HRES 1088 IH 
(A) James Weldon Johnson Park stood at 
the center of the 1960s race riots in Jackson-
ville, Florida, where ax handles were used to 
beat African Americans who were attempting to 
desegregate lunch counters; and 
(B) designating James Weldon Johnson 
Park as part of the National Park Service’s Af-
rican American Civil Rights Network will mark 
the day of the Ax Handle Saturday attack as 
a reminder of what happened and honor those 
who stood up for justice. 
Æ 
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