Georgia CommonsHR 1714: Bayard Rustin Day; March 17, 2026; recognize
Last action March 16, 2026 · House Read and Adopted
A Georgia House resolution recognizes March 17, 2026 as Bayard Rustin Day, honoring the civil rights leader who organized the 1963 March on Washington.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This House resolution from the Georgia General Assembly designates March 17, 2026 as Bayard Rustin Day, marking the birthday of civil rights leader Bayard Rustin. The resolution recounts Rustin's role as a close advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his work bringing nonviolent resistance into the Civil Rights Movement, his role as chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, his co-founding of the Congress of Racial Equality, and his participation in the Journey of Reconciliation challenging segregation in interstate travel. The resolution directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make copies available for distribution to the public and the press. It does not create any new law, funding, or ongoing program; it is a ceremonial statement by the House of Representatives.
What the bill does
- Formally recognizes March 17, 2026 as Bayard Rustin Day through a House resolution.
- Recounts Bayard Rustin's historical contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, including organizing the 1963 March on Washington.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make copies of the resolution available to the public and the press.
- Creates no new statute, funding, or enforceable legal requirement; it is a symbolic commemoration.
Who it affects
The resolution primarily affects how the Georgia House of Representatives formally commemorates Bayard Rustin; it also involves the Clerk of the House, who must distribute copies, and the public and press who may receive them.
Why it matters
While the resolution carries no legal or funding consequences, it represents an official statement by the Georgia House of Representatives publicly honoring Bayard Rustin's civil rights legacy, which may be used in community observances or educational contexts on March 17, 2026.
Key provisions
- The resolving clause formally designates March 17, 2026 as Bayard Rustin Day in the state of Georgia.
- A further resolution clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies to the public and press.
- The whereas clauses provide historical background on Rustin's role in the March on Washington, the Congress of Racial Equality, and the Journey of Reconciliation, but establish no legal obligations.
From the bill
“the members of this body recognize March 17, 2026, as Bayard Rustin Day in celebration of Bayard Rustin's innumerable contributions to the Civil Rights Movement”
“he was the chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, one of the most significant demonstrations in our nation's history”
Status timeline
- House Read and Adopted (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Park Cannon (D, HD-058)
- Samuel Park (D, HD-107)
- Al Williams (D, HD-168)
Topics
- civil rights history
- Bayard Rustin
- commemorative resolution
- Georgia House of Representatives