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Current Status Bill Number:View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.474 Type of Legislation:Concurrent Resolution CR Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19990209 Primary Sponsor:Ford All Sponsors:Ford Drafted Document Number:l:\s-res\rf\001libe.kad.doc Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Judiciary Committee 11 SJ Subject:Black Liberation Flag, Resolutions, Flags, Buildings, State House History Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ ______________________________________ _______ ____________ Senate 19990209 Introduced, referred to Committee 11 SJ Versions of This Bill
TO CAUSE THE BLACK LIBERATION FLAG TO BE FLOWN FROM THE FLAGPOLE ATOP THE STATE HOUSE AND INSIDE THE CHAMBERS OF BOTH HOUSES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DURING THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 15-24, THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, AND ON JUNE 19, "JUNETEENTH," AND DURING "KWANZAA", DECEMBER 26 THROUGH JANUARY 1, AS OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF THE STRUGGLE FOR LIBERATION AND SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF CERTAIN CITIZENS, IN KEEPING WITH THE LEGISLATIVE POLICY OF HONORING SUCH CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH THE DISPLAY OF FLAGS.
Whereas, the United States Flag and the South Carolina Flag both fly above the State House and in the chambers of both Houses of the General Assembly as official symbols of governments; and
Whereas, as a matter of legislative policy, the General Assembly has determined that it is proper to display, other than the two official flags, a battle flag of this State as a war memorial to those South Carolinians who sacrificed in the struggle over state's rights; and
Whereas, the purpose of this policy is to recognize the contributions of certain citizens past who sacrificed in service to the State and to accentuate important aspects of the state's history; and
Whereas, the contributions of those who participated in the state's struggle for civil rights have not heretofore been officially recognized and memorialized by the display of a flag in their honor and memory; and
Whereas, certain other citizens, alternatively known as Coloreds, Negroes, Blacks, and African-Americans, were in the vanguard of the civil rights struggle and made a substantial historical contribution to the development of the State of South Carolina for all citizens through their efforts at equal rights with loss of life even for some; and
Whereas, such citizens have engaged in a long, gallant, and continuous struggle to achieve total liberation and equality in this State and in the United States; and
Whereas, more than one million such citizens now reside in South Carolina, representing almost thirty percent of the state's population and the experiences of their South Carolina ancestors are defining moments in our history whose memory tells something of who we were and are; and
Whereas, such citizens have, through experience and history, used or adopted a flag to represent their struggle and unity under a common cause, both formally through various political and cultural associations and organizations, and informally by the incorporation of the colors of such flag in various insignia and memorabilia; and
Whereas, a flag originated in the early part of this century with Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association, an organization devoted to the liberation and equality of all citizens in the United States at a time when systematic inequality and blatant discrimination were a way of life; and
Whereas, the colors of the flag, red, black, and green, have come to symbolize the evolution of the African-American rights so that the common practice is now the words of our Constitution. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That a flag, to be known as the Black Liberation Flag, consisting of single red, black, and green horizontal bars of equal dimensions with the colors running from top to bottom, respectively, be flown from the flagpole atop the State House, as well as from the rostrums in the chambers of both Houses of the General Assembly during the period of January 15-24, the month of February, on June 19, "Juneteenth", and during "Kwanzaa", December 26 through January 1, as official recognition of the struggle for liberation, the struggle over impediment, and the substantial contributions of certain citizens in putting into practice for all the words of our Constitution, in keeping with the legislative policy of honoring the greatest historical contributions through the display of flags to remember those who made the sacrifice in service to their State and to the defense and implementation of our Constitution for all.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Director of the Division of General Services.
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