Policy Resolution LJE-18-01

WHEREAS, the Civil War was fought as a result of 11 southern states, the Confederacy, seceding from the United States;

WHEREAS, there are varying reasons given by various sources owned by the southern states for why they chose to secede, but the most likely is the dispute over the economic and political consequences of ending slavery;

WHEREAS, many of the leaders who led those states to secede had previously pledged allegiance to the United States government;

WHEREAS, the Confederacy was unsuccessful;

WHEREAS, between 1890 and 1930 many pro-secession organizations, writers, officials began concerted efforts to erect monuments, statutes and other tributes to the failed southern cause of creating a separate confederation of states; and

WHEREAS, during this time many monuments, statutes, naming of public properties, and other memorials were erected to give an incomplete and many times inaccurate depiction of the Civil War.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) encourages local and state executive and legislative bodies, schools, community organizations, religious affiliations, historical societies, preservation groups and all interested parties to hold public meetings on the causes and lessons learned from the Civil War;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL encourages governors, mayors, and local and state legislative bodies to review policies behind who is honored from the Civil War era and the reasons for them being honored;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL further supports decisions to remove and relocate appropriate Civil War era monuments and statutes from public properties;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL supports the right of local citizens, groups, organizations to call for local and state officials review polices for displaying Confederate monuments on public property and to hold officials accountable for doing so;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL urges all state and local elected officials — beginning with governors — to step forward as leaders and voice strenuous and unequivocal opposition to any calling for the use of violence, intolerance, racism, anti-religious, or anti-ethnic language whatsoever; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NBCSL send a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of Congress, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.

• SPONSOR(s): Representative Reginald Meeks (KY) and Representative Greg Porter (IN)
• Committee of Jurisdiction: Law, Justice, and Ethics Policy Committee
• Certified by Committee Chair: Representative Reginald Meeks (KY)
• Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is December 2, 2017
• Ratification is certified by: Representative Gregory W. Porter (IN), President