Presenter
Presented by Mr. Udin
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Whereas, the Henry Highland Garnet Society of Pittsburgh will hold its 7th annual Freedom and Justice Celebration April 8, 2005 through April 10, 2005; and
Whereas, this year's events, hosted at Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church, the first African American Presbyterian church in Pittsburgh, 1000 Bryn MawrRoad ,dedicated posthumously to Madia Springer Kemp (1910-2005), a black Panamanian labor activist, will include: the first "Remembering Elizabeth Jennings Day" and award ceremony on April 8, 2005, The Underground Railroad History Tour to the Heinz History Center and LeMonyne House in Washington, Pennsylvania on April 9, 2005, and "Henry Highland Garnet Day" and award ceremony on April 10, 2005; and
Whereas, Henry Highland Garnet (1815-1882) born a slave, family-emancipated in his 9th year of age, lost an injured leg to amputation at the age of 15, became an internationally known abolitionist, an orator, the first African American to address the United States House of Representatives, the first pastor of Pittsburgh's Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church in 1868, and appointed U.S. Ambassador to Liberia in 1881; and
Whereas, Elizabeth Jennings (1830-?), a 24-year-old African American, New York school teacher, church organist, hired an attorney to sue the Third Avenue Railway Company in 1854 for injuring her person and won money damages--it was found that her civil rights were violated, on her way to church, when the conductor forcibly ejected her from a horse-drawn bus based on color; and
Whereas, to honor the extraordinary contributions of women who fight for equality, the 2005 "Remembering Elizabeth Jennings Day" award will be given to: Ms. Claudia Allen, the Honorable Brenda Frazier, Elder Mary Jane Page and Dame Mary A. Walker.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Pittsburgh City Council salutes the Henry Highland Garnet Society of Pittsburgh in celebration of its 7th annual Freedom and Justice Celebration and extends its accolades to the recipients of the "Remembering Elizabeth Jennings Day" award; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that April 8, 2005 be declared "Remembering Elizabeth Jennings Day" in the City of Pittsburgh, LET FREEDOM RING!