S 980 Session 112 (1997-1998)
S 0980 Concurrent Resolution, By Ford, Anderson, Glover, Hutto, McConnell,
Patterson, Ravenel and J.V. Smith
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CAUSE THE BLACK LIBERATION FLAG TO BE FLOWN FROM
THE FLAGPOLE ATOP THE STATE HOUSE AND INSIDE THE CHAMBERS OF BOTH HOUSES OF
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DURING THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 15-24, THE MONTH OF
FEBRUARY, AND ON JUNE 19, "JUNETEENTH," AND DURING "KWANZAA," DECEMBER 26
THROUGH JANUARY 1, AS OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF THE STRUGGLE FOR LIBERATION AND
SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF CERTAIN CITIZENS, IN KEEPING WITH THE LEGISLATIVE
POLICY OF HONORING SUCH CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH THE DISPLAY OF FLAGS.
02/03/98 Senate Introduced SJ-6
02/03/98 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-6
02/26/98 Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
Judiciary SJ-14
COMMITTEE REPORT
February 26, 1998
S. 980
Introduced by Senators Ford, McConnell, Glover, Patterson, Ravenel,
J. Verne Smith, Anderson and Hutto
S. Printed 2/26/98--S.
Read the first time February 3, 1998.
THE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (S. 980), to cause
the Black Liberation Flag to be flown from the flagpole atop the State
House, etc., respectfully
REPORT:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and
recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the resolution, as and if amended, page 2, line 38, by
inserting after the word /flown/ the following:
/, in addition to the United States Flag, South Carolina Flag, and
Confederate Battle Flag,/
Amend the resolution further, as and if amended, page 2, by striking
line 42 in its entirety and inserting therein the following:
/and during the week of August 17th, as official/
Amend title to conform.
DONALD H. HOLLAND, for Committee.
A CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
TO CAUSE THE BLACK LIBERATION FLAG TO BE FLOWN
FROM THE FLAGPOLE ATOP THE STATE HOUSE AND
INSIDE THE CHAMBERS OF BOTH HOUSES OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY DURING THE PERIOD OF JANUARY
15-24, THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, AND ON JUNE 19,
"JUNETEENTH," AND DURING "KWANZAA", DECEMBER 26
THROUGH JANUARY 1, AS OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF THE
STRUGGLE FOR LIBERATION AND SUBSTANTIAL
CONTRIBUTIONS OF CERTAIN CITIZENS, IN KEEPING WITH
THE LEGISLATIVE POLICY OF HONORING SUCH
CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH THE DISPLAY OF FLAGS.
Whereas, the United States Flag and the South Carolina Flag both fly
above the State House and in the chambers of both Houses of the
General Assembly as official symbols of governments; and
Whereas, as a matter of legislative policy, the General Assembly has
determined that it is proper to display, other than the two official
flags, a battle flag of this State as a war memorial to those South
Carolinians who sacrificed in the struggle over state's rights; and
Whereas, the purpose of this policy is to recognize the contributions
of certain citizens past who sacrificed in service to the State and to
accentuate important aspects of the state's history; and
Whereas, the contributions of those who participated in the state's
struggle for civil rights have not heretofore been officially recognized
and memorialized by the display of a flag in their honor and memory;
and
Whereas, certain other citizens, alternatively known as Coloreds,
Negroes, Blacks, and African-Americans, were in the vanguard of the
civil rights struggle and made a substantial historical contribution to
the development of the State of South Carolina for all citizens
through their efforts at equal rights with loss of life even for some;
and
Whereas, such citizens have engaged in a long, gallant, and
continuous struggle to achieve total liberation and equality in this
State and in the United States; and
Whereas, more than one million such citizens now reside in South
Carolina, representing almost thirty percent of the state's population
and the experiences of their South Carolina ancestors are defining
moments in our history whose memory tells something of who we
were and are; and
Whereas, such citizens have, through experience and history, used or
adopted a flag to represent their struggle and unity under a common
cause, both formally through various political and cultural
associations and organizations, and informally by the incorporation
of the colors of such flag in various insignia and memorabilia; and
Whereas, a flag originated in the early part of this century with
Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association,
an organization devoted to the liberation and equality of all citizens
in the United States at a time when systematic inequality and blatant
discrimination were a way of life; and
Whereas, the colors of the flag, red, black, and green, have come to
symbolize the evolution of the African-American rights so that the
common practice is now the words of our Constitution. Now,
therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives
concurring:
That a flag, to be known as the Black Liberation Flag, consisting of
single red, black, and green horizontal bars of equal dimensions with
the colors running from top to bottom, respectively, be flown from
the flagpole atop the State House, as well as from the rostrums in the
chambers of both Houses of the General Assembly during the period
of January 15-24, the month of February, on June 19, "Juneteenth",
and during "Kwanzaa", December 26 through January 1, as official
recognition of the struggle for liberation, the struggle over
impediment, and the substantial contributions of certain citizens in
putting into practice for all the words of our Constitution, in keeping
with the legislative policy of honoring the greatest historical
contributions through the display of flags to remember those who
made the sacrifice in service to their State and to the defense and
implementation of our Constitution for all.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to
the Director of the Division of General Services.
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