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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2007 > March > 16
Friday, March 16, 2007
Slavery apology gains new support
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
State lawmakers who are seeking an apology over Georgia’s role in slavery say they have gained a powerful Republican ally who will introduce a resolution in the Senate.
State Rep. Al Williams (D-Midway) said he and Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) are preparing to introduce identical resolutions in the House and Senate that seek reconciliation over Georgia’s history with slavery.
The exact wording for the resolutions has not yet been worked out, Williams said.
Williams and Johnson met with Rep. Tyrone Brooks (D-Atlanta) and Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond this afternoon about the legislation. Johnson invited Thurmond to help facilitate the meeting.
Johnson’s involvement comes as the Senate is considering declaring April to be Confederate History and Heritage Month, a development that has offended civil rights leaders.
“It is hard to commemorate the Civil War and not talk about slavery,” said Williams, who said he is the great-grandson of a slave.
Williams said he doesn’t plan to introduce his resolution Monday as he originally planned because it still needs work.
“We are not there yet,” said Williams, the head of Georgia’s Legislative Black Caucus whose district overlaps with Johnson’s.
Johnson could not be immediately reached for comment today. But he was preparing to talk about his plans during a news conference later in the afternoon.
Before today, Williams was circulating a four-page draft of a proposed resolution that would acknowledge the history of slavery in America “with contrition” and call for “reconciliations” among all Georgians.
The draft traces the history of slavery from ancient times to the arrival of slaves in Jamestown. It also refers to slavery’s role in the Civil War, the subsequent lynchings of African-Americans and the system of Jim Crow laws that were designed to enforce racial segregation.
“In Georgia,” the resolution reads, “the vestiges of slavery are ever before African-American citizens, from the overt racism of hate groups to the subtle racism encountered when requesting health care, transacting business, buying a home, seeking quality public education and college admission, and enduring pretextual traffic stops and other indignities.”
Williams announced last week he would introduce the resolution after the Georgia NAACP called on Gov. Sonny Perdue to issue an apology for the state’s role in slavery and Jim Crow laws. Perdue has so far declined to comment on the NAACP’s request.
“It’s symbolic. But it shows that we as legislators will not ignore the existence of this evil,” Williams, head of Georgia’s Legislative Black Caucus, said of the draft in an interview earlier this week. “Some of the great healings of all time come about because of symbolic gestures.”
Williams said he modeled his resolution on one that passed the Virginia legislature late last month. But unlike Williams’ resolution, the Virginia legislation uses the words “profound regret” in connection with slavery.
The chances of Williams’ resolution passing the House this year appear slim, however, since it is meeting with resistance from House Republican leaders who say they are concerned about apologizing for something they were not involved in. Plus, Williams has little time to move his resolution through the Legislature, which has passed day 27 of its 40-day session.
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