Chair Williams thanks staff and reflects on slavery and Freedom Day
Chair Williams thanks committee staff, especially senior policy analyst Regina who drafted six resolutions, then delivers personal remarks invoking Frederick Douglass's 'What to the slave is the Fourth of July?' and urging recognition of those not free during the country's founding.
I really want to thank my staff and committee staff who worked on preparing for today, including Regina, the committee senior policy analyst who drafted six of these resolutions.
And I just wanted to say something completely off script.
But, you know, when I think about Freedom Day, I know we have a resolution on Freedom Day, another resolution just simply commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.
I think it's so important that we continue to tell a fuller story and we speak the names of individuals who are not free, like many of my ancestors who were forcibly brought to this country.
And so, you know, I always have to echo Frederick Douglass's comments.
What to the slave is the Fourth of July?
What to descendants of slaves is 250 years of this country?
And with that, I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.