2024 Senate Resolution 134

Whereas, In the early 1960s, Mississippi was the most brutally segregated state in the country, having the lowest per capita and family income of any state, with huge gaps between white and black family incomes and education levels; and

Whereas, Many civil rights activists in Mississippi were beaten, shot, and murdered, including Medgar Evers; and

Whereas, African Americans were effectively barred from holding any elected office, serving on juries, and from registering or voting without facing possible violence; and

Whereas, Mississippi was effectively a one-party state, controlled by the Democratic party, which barred African Americans from membership; and

Whereas, The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, the Congress of Racial Equality, the Southern Christian Leadership Council, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) came together in 1962 to form the Council of Federated Organizations (COFO) with the purpose of challenging segregation and exposing the violent culture that subjugated African Americans; and

Whereas, In the summer of 1964, COFO made a strategic decision to campaign and bring volunteers from all over the country to Mississippi to register Black voters, create Freedom Schools, establish libraries, and support the efforts of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party to build an integrated political party to challenge the racist policies that barred non-whites from having a voice in state and local government; and

Whereas, COFO made another strategic decision to have almost all of the out-of-state volunteers be white in order to draw national attention to the brutality and corruption that dominated Mississippi; and

Whereas, These volunteers included over 75 Michiganders, 1,000 student volunteers from northern colleges and universities, 254 clergy, 169 attorneys, and 50 medical professionals, as well as a staff of over 120 Mississippi residents. All volunteers recognized that they would be facing violent resistance; and

Whereas, During the Freedom Summer, two student volunteers and four Mississippi residents were murdered; and

Whereas, In addition, 80 volunteers were brutally beaten, 37 churches were firebombed or burned, and at least 30 Black homes and businesses were destroyed; and

Whereas, Less than 10 percent of the 17,000 African American voters who attempted to register to vote were successful; and

Whereas, Freedom Schools in rural counties were attended by 30,000 students and over 50 Freedom libraries were established, providing adult literacy classes; and

Whereas, In an election held by the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, 60,000 state residents voted to select an integrated slate of delegates to challenge the segregated state party delegation at the 1964 Democratic National Convention held in Atlantic City; and

Whereas, While Michigan has long been a national leader in voter registration, election turnout, and election security, the fight to secure the right to vote continues to be an ongoing struggle in many other parts of the country; and

Whereas, We recognize and honor the Michigan residents who risked their own personal safety to join the 1,500 volunteers during the 1964 Freedom Summer; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body recognize the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer. The right of any citizen to vote in local, state, or national elections is essential to the vitality of our democracy.