119-hres632

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 632 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
H. RES. 632

Recognizing the courageous actions of Reverend Nat Turner in his fight 
 to abolish slavery and make the majestic words of the Jeffersonian 
Declaration of Independence, ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, 
that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator 
 with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, 
 and the pursuit of happiness'', apply to the enslaved, and for other 
 purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 August 5, 2025

 Mr. Green of Texas submitted the following resolution; which was 
 referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

Recognizing the courageous actions of Reverend Nat Turner in his fight 
 to abolish slavery and make the majestic words of the Jeffersonian 
Declaration of Independence, ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, 
that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator 
 with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, 
 and the pursuit of happiness'', apply to the enslaved, and for other 
 purposes.

Whereas this resolution may be cited as the original resolution recognizing the 
 courageous actions of Reverend Nat Turner;
Whereas Reverend Nat Turner was born into slavery in Southampton County, 
 Virginia, in 1800;
Whereas, after learning to read and write at a young age, Reverend Nat Turner 
 became a pastor who, because of his professed prophetic visions, was 
 dubbed ``The Prophet'';
Whereas, at the age of 30, Reverend Nat Turner led one of the most significant 
 rebellions in American history on August 21, 1831;
Whereas the rebellion, also known as the Southampton Insurrection, demonstrated 
 the profound desire for freedom among enslaved persons;
Whereas, in his efforts to liberate those in bondage from the crime against 
 humanity known as slavery, Reverend Nat Turner employed controversial 
 methods, ultimately taking the lives of more than 55 people for which he 
 was condemned and executed;
Whereas, in retaliation for the Turner rebellion to free the enslaved, militia, 
 enslavers, and mobs murdered as many as 120 African Americans, both 
 enslaved and free;
Whereas, also in retaliation, slave State legislatures passed laws to fortify 
 slavery by restraining rights of the enslaved to learn to read, write, 
 and assemble;
Whereas the Turner rebellion was a harbinger of war to come between slave States 
 and free States, the Civil War;
Whereas Reverend Nat Turner's actions inspired other acts of resistance among 
 enslaved human beings determined to realize the Jeffersonian unalienable 
 rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and kindled the 
 national debate concerning the injustices of slavery;
Whereas this debate contributed to the eventual abolition of slavery, a critical 
 step forward toward the realization of the noble Jeffersonian ideal of 
 all persons (enslavers and enslaved alike) being created equal and 
 endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, among them 
 life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and
Whereas this House recognizes that discussions about the freedom fighters such 
 as Reverend Nat Turner and John Brown must consider the historic 
 injustices and brutal conditions they were fighting against: Now, 
 therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

    (1) honors the freedom fighter Reverend Nat Turner for his 
 courage and sacrifice in the face of brutal and systemic 
 injustice;

    (2) recognizes the contributions of Reverend Nat Turner to 
 the eventual abolition of slavery in the United States;

    (3) encourages continued study, understanding, and dialogue 
 about the complexities of the struggle for racial justice in 
 the United States, including the role of freedom fighters such 
 as Reverend Nat Turner;

    (4) reaffirms its commitment to the principles of noble 
 Jeffersonian ideal of all persons being created equal and 
 endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that 
 among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; 
 and

    (5) calls on the citizens of the United States to observe a 
 moment of reflection on Slavery Remembrance Day for all those 
 who suffered and died in the struggle against a great crime 
 against humanity, slavery.
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