Reaffirming House Joint Resolution 554

CONCURRED

WHEREAS, the District of Columbia is one of only two Federal districts in the world where the residents have no right to select a representative with the right to vote in the legislature; and

WHEREAS, over seven hundred thousand (700,000) American citizens continue to be denied the right to vote for those who attempt to represent them in the national government, the United States Congress; and

WHEREAS, no people can be properly represented in a democracy unless they themselves elect those representatives; and

WHEREAS, these seven hundred thousand (700,000) citizens of the District of Columbia bear all the burdens of citizenship, pay full Federal taxes, and fight in our nation's wars; and

WHEREAS, we believe the District of Columbia citizens are unjustly treated because a majority of them are black Americans; and

WHEREAS, we believe that House Joint Resolution 554, already approved by the House of Representatives, is the best means of correcting this gross injustice done to our fellow Americans; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP considers H. J. Res. 554 to be THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT of 1978, passage of this constitutional amendment will close the incredible gap still left in civil rights.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP pledge to work vigorously for approval of  H. J. Res. 554 by the United States Senate and, thereafter, by the states; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP ask its members to urge their Senators to insure that H. J. Res. 554 be considered by the full Senate, before the end of the 95th Congress and, then, to vote in favor of H. J. Res. 554.