IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 660 
Recognizing the courageous actions of Reverend Nat Turner in his fight 
to abolish slavery and make the majestic words of the Jeffersonian 
Declaration of Independence, ‘‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, 
that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator 
with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and 
the pursuit of happiness’’, apply to the enslaved, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 22, 2023 
Mr. GREEN of Texas submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the courageous actions of Reverend Nat Turner 
in his fight to abolish slavery and make the majestic 
words of the Jeffersonian Declaration of Independence, 
‘‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men 
are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator 
with certain unalienable rights, that among these are 
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’’, apply to 
the enslaved, and for other purposes. 
Whereas this resolution may be cited as the original resolu-
tion recognizing the courageous actions of Reverend Nat 
Turner; 
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Whereas Reverend Nat Turner was born into slavery in 
Southampton County, Virginia, in 1800; 
Whereas after learning to read and write at a young age, 
Reverend Nat Turner became a pastor who, because of 
his professed prophetic visions, was dubbed ‘‘The Proph-
et’’; 
Whereas at the age of 30, Reverend Nat Turner led one of 
the most significant rebellions in American history on 
August 21, 1831; 
Whereas the rebellion, also known as the Southampton Insur-
rection, demonstrated the profound desire for freedom 
among enslaved persons; 
Whereas in his efforts to liberate those in bondage from the 
crime against humanity known as slavery, Reverend Nat 
Turner employed controversial methods, ultimately taking 
the lives of more than 55 people for which he was con-
demned and executed; 
Whereas in retaliation for the Turner rebellion to free the 
enslaved, militia, enslavers, and mobs murdered as many 
as 120 African Americans, both enslaved and free; 
Whereas also in retaliation, slave State legislatures passed 
laws to fortify slavery by restraining rights of the 
enslaved to learn to read, write, and assemble; 
Whereas the Turner rebellion was a harbinger of war to come 
between slave States and free States, the Civil War; 
Whereas Reverend Nat Turner’s actions inspired other acts 
of resistance among enslaved human beings determined 
to realize the Jeffersonian unalienable rights of life, lib-
erty, and the pursuit of happiness and kindled the na-
tional debate concerning the injustices of slavery; 
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Whereas this debate contributed to the eventual abolition of 
slavery, a critical step forward toward the realization of 
the noble Jeffersonian ideal of all persons (enslavers and 
enslaved alike) being created equal and endowed by their 
creator with certain unalienable rights, among them life, 
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and 
Whereas this House recognizes that discussions about the 
freedom fighters such as Reverend Nat Turner and John 
Brown must consider the historic injustices and brutal 
conditions they were fighting against: Now, therefore, be 
it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) honors the freedom fighter Reverend Nat 
Turner for his courage and sacrifice in the face of 
brutal and systemic injustice; 
(2) recognizes the contributions of Reverend 
Nat Turner to the eventual abolition of slavery in 
the United States; 
(3) encourages continued study, understanding, 
and dialogue about the complexities of the struggle 
for racial justice in the United States, including the 
role of freedom fighters such as Reverend Nat Tur-
ner; 
(4) reaffirms its commitment to the principles 
of noble Jeffersonian ideal of all persons being cre-
ated equal and endowed by their creator with certain 
unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, 
and the pursuit of happiness; and 
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(5) calls on the citizens of the United States to 
observe a moment of reflection on Slavery Remem-
brance Day for all those who suffered and died in 
the struggle against a great crime against humanity, 
slavery. 
Æ 
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