--- title: HR 239. 116th Founders Day of the NAACP; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr239 cite_as: HR 239, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr239 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr239.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr239/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70223 date: 2025-02-11 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/hr238.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr240.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr239.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 239 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-11 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Teddy Reese - Omari Crawford - Phil Olaleye - Derrick Jackson - Eric Bell text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR239/2025 upstream_id: 1965806 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - NAACP - civil rights history - Georgia House resolution - racial justice --- # HR 239. 116th Founders Day of the NAACP; recognize ## Text House Resolution 239 By: Representatives Reese of the 140th, Crawford of the 89th, Olaleye of the 59th, Jackson of the 68th, and Bell of the 75th A RESOLUTION Commemorating the 116th Founders Day of the NAACP; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the Georgia NAACP proudly celebrates the legacy and enduring contributions of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on its 116th Founders Day, recognizing their commitment to justice, equality, and the upliftment of African Americans; and WHEREAS, the founding of the NAACP on February 12, 1909, marked a pivotal moment in American history, sparked by a call for action led by Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison Villard, William English Walling, and Dr. Henry Moscowitz, descendants of abolitionists who sought to address the urgent need for racial justice in the United States; and WHEREAS, these visionary leaders, alongside W. E. B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and Mary Church Terrell, convened to unite diverse voices in the fight against racial discrimination and inequality; and WHEREAS, Mary White Ovington, a descendant of abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, and Oswald Garrison Villard, a descendant of the prominent journalist and abolitionist, played key roles in founding the NAACP, committing themselves to the cause of civil rights and social justice as well as contributing to the organization's early activism and efforts to combat racial injustice; and WHEREAS, William English Walling and Dr. Henry Moscowitz, who called for the initial meeting to address the racial violence and discrimination faced by African Americans, helped catalyze the creation of an organization that would grow into one of the most powerful advocates for civil rights in American history; and WHEREAS, the contributions of W. E. B. Du Bois, a pioneering scholar and activist, and Ida B. Wells-Barnett, a fearless anti-lynching crusader, were indispensable in the formation of the NAACP, providing intellectual leadership and moral clarity in the struggle for racial justice; likewise, Mary Church Terrell's advocacy for women's rights and African American equality remains a cornerstone of the organization's foundational values; and WHEREAS, throughout its storied history, the Georgia NAACP has been at the forefront of advocating for civil rights, ensuring equitable access to education, healthcare, employment, and housing as well as fostering political, social, and economic justice for all people regardless of race; and WHEREAS, through organizing protests, litigation, lobbying, and public education, the Georgia NAACP has been instrumental in dismantling the structures of segregation and discrimination, paving the way for future generations to continue the fight for racial justice and equality; and WHEREAS, as we mark the 116th Founders Day, we honor the resilience, courage, and tireless efforts of those who have contributed to this movement, past and present, as well as renew our commitment to carrying forward their vision of a world in which all people can live with dignity and without fear of discrimination; and WHEREAS, the Georgia NAACP continues to stand resolutely against systemic racism and injustice, advocating for transformative change in laws, policies, and institutions to create a future of equal opportunity for all, regardless of race or background; and WHEREAS, on this special day, we reflect on the ongoing need for the work of the NAACP, recognizing both the progress made and the challenges that remain in achieving true racial equality and justice in Georgia and across the nation. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commemorate the 116th Founders Day of the NAACP in honor of the vision, perseverance, and leadership of those who laid its foundation as well as recommit to advancing the cause of civil rights for all people in Georgia and beyond. 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 commemorates the 116th Founders Day of the NAACP, honoring the organization's founders and the Georgia NAACP's civil rights work. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia House of Representatives, not a change to state law. It commemorates the 116th anniversary of the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which was established on February 12, 1909. The resolution recounts the roles of founders such as Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison Villard, William English Walling, Dr. Henry Moscowitz, W. E. B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and Mary Church Terrell in creating the organization. The resolution also recognizes the Georgia NAACP's history of advocacy on education, healthcare, employment, housing, and civil rights, and states the House's commitment to advancing civil rights. It directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press. It does not create any new law, funding, or requirement. ### What it does - Formally commemorates the 116th Founders Day of the NAACP on behalf of the Georgia House of Representatives. - Recounts the history and founders of the NAACP, including Mary White Ovington, W. E. B. Du Bois, and Ida B. Wells-Barnett. - States the House's recognition of the Georgia NAACP's civil rights advocacy in areas like education, healthcare, employment, and housing. - Directs the Clerk of the House to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the public and press. ### Who it affects This resolution primarily affects the Georgia NAACP, whose founding and history it commemorates, and the Clerk of the House, who is directed to distribute copies. It has no direct legal or regulatory effect on other Georgians. ### Why it matters As a ceremonial resolution, it does not change Georgia law, create funding, or impose requirements. Its practical effect is symbolic recognition by the Georgia House of the NAACP's founding and the Georgia NAACP's civil rights work, formally entered into the legislative record. ### Key provisions - The resolving clause states the House commemorates the 116th Founders Day and recommits to advancing civil rights in Georgia and beyond. - A further resolution directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available for distribution to the public and the press. - The whereas clauses detail the NAACP's founding on February 12, 1909, and its key founders. - The whereas clauses also describe the Georgia NAACP's historical advocacy work on segregation, discrimination, and equal access. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-11) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-11) - Sponsors: Teddy Reese, Omari Crawford, Phil Olaleye, Derrick Jackson, Eric Bell - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70223 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr239.md?full=1