HJ448: Commending the Loudoun County NAACP.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 448
Offered March 2, 2020
Commending the Loudoun County NAACP.
Patrons-- Subramanyam; Senator: Bell

WHEREAS, the Loudoun County NAACP, a local branch of the national civil rights organization, celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2020; and

WHEREAS, at the forefront of the fight for racial equality and justice for many years, the Loudoun County NAACP has accomplished several milestones on the path to a more inclusive and supportive society for all; and

WHEREAS, the organization actively supports the preservation and protection of many African American historical sites in Loudoun County and the Commonwealth, ensuring future generations will know and better understand the history that precedes them; and

WHEREAS, in 2019, the Loudoun County NAACP dedicated the Orion Anderson Lynching Memorial, shining light on a tragic and unjust event from the county’s history and bringing peace to a local family; and

WHEREAS, the Loudoun County NAACP is a steadfast advocate for equality in the county’s schools; these advocacy efforts are led by the organization’s president, Pastor Michelle Thomas, who was recently appointed to the Commission on African American History Education, a state commission created to evaluate Virginia’s history standards and the instructional practices, content, and resources the Commonwealth currently uses to teach African American history; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the Loudoun County NAACP’s environmental justice advocacy, residents of Howardsville, a predominately African American rural community in Loudoun County, will soon have running water for the first time; and

WHEREAS, tirelessly addressing the myriad of issues affecting the lives of African Americans and others, the Loudoun County NAACP has made great strides toward a more equal and just Commonwealth for all; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Loudoun County NAACP on the occasion of its 80th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Pastor Michelle Thomas, president of the Loudoun County NAACP, as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the organization’s mission and best wishes for its continued success.