--- title: HR 1714. Bayard Rustin Day; March 17, 2026; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1714 cite_as: HR 1714, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1714 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1714.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1714/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74130 date: 2026-03-16 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1713.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1715.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1714.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1714 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-16 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Park Cannon - Samuel Park - Al Williams text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1714/2025 upstream_id: 2134512 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - civil rights history - Bayard Rustin - commemorative resolution - Georgia House of Representatives --- # HR 1714. Bayard Rustin Day; March 17, 2026; recognize ## Text House Resolution 1714 By: Representatives Cannon of the 58th, Park of the 107th, and Williams of the 168th A RESOLUTION Recognizing March 17, 2026, as Bayard Rustin Day; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Bayard Rustin Day is an annual, cross-generational celebration of the civil rights icon, architect of the March on Washington, and unapologetic advocate for peace and equality, Bayard Rustin; and WHEREAS, a close advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Bayard Rustin played a pivotal role in making nonviolent resistance a foundational principle of the Civil Rights Movement; and WHEREAS, 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; co-founded the Congress of Racial Equality; and participated in the Journey of Reconciliation, an early effort to challenge segregation in interstate travel; and WHEREAS, held annually on his birthday, March 17, Bayard Rustin Day brings together youth leaders, artists, and community members for a powerful afternoon of performance, dialogue, and collective action. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that 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. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution recognizes March 17, 2026 as Bayard Rustin Day, honoring the civil rights leader who organized the 1963 March on Washington. ### Plain-language summary 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 it 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. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-16) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-03-16) - Sponsors: Park Cannon, Samuel Park, Al Williams - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74130 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1714.md?full=1