Georgia CommonsSR 248: Person, Charles; condolences
Last action February 26, 2025 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Senate resolution honors the late Charles Person, one of the original 1961 Freedom Riders, and offers condolences to his family and friends.
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 Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It recognizes Charles Person, an Atlanta native who at age 18 joined the Freedom Riders in 1961 and faced violence while challenging segregation in the United States. The resolution recounts his lifelong work in civil rights, education, and mentorship after his time as a Freedom Rider, and notes that he died on January 8, 2025. The Senate formally honors him for his contributions to the civil rights movement and extends condolences to his family and friends. It also directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to Person's family.
What the bill does
- Formally honors Charles Person, a Freedom Rider, for his contributions to the civil rights movement.
- Extends the Senate's condolences to Person's family, friends, and those he inspired.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Person's family.
- Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement, since it is a ceremonial resolution rather than a bill amending Georgia statute.
Who it affects
This resolution directly names Charles Person's family and friends, who receive the Senate's condolences and a copy of the document. It does not impose obligations on any other group, agency, or member of the public.
Why it matters
The resolution has no legal or regulatory effect on Georgians. Its significance is symbolic: it places an official Senate record honoring Person's civil rights legacy and provides his family with a formal statement of recognition and condolence.
Key provisions
- The whereas clauses recount Person's role as one of the youngest original Freedom Riders, joining in 1961 at age 18.
- The first resolving clause posthumously honors Person for his contributions to the civil rights movement.
- The second resolving clause extends condolences to his family, friends, and those inspired by his work.
- The final resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to Person's family.
From the bill
“Charles Person, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, and one of the youngest original Freedom Riders, dedicated his life to the pursuit of civil rights, justice, and equality for all Americans”
“the members of this body posthumously honor Charles Person for his extraordinary contributions to the civil rights movement and his unwavering dedication to creating a more just and equitable society”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
- Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
- Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)
- Donzella James (D, SD-028)
- David Lucas (D, SD-026)
- Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
- Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
Topics
- civil rights history
- Freedom Riders
- Senate resolution
- Charles Person