AR85

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman GARY S. SCHAER

District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblyman BENJIE E. WIMBERLY

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

Supports the federal Emmett Till Antilynching Act.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

An Assembly Resolution supporting the Emmett Till Antilynching Act and the continued use of legislation to address historical injustices.

Whereas, According to the NAACP, a lynching is the public killing of an individual who has not received any due process; and

Whereas, A typical lynching involves a criminal accusation, an arrest, and the assembly of a mob, followed by seizure, physical torment, and murder of the victim; and

Whereas, Historically, lynchings were often public spectacles attended by the white community in celebration of white supremacy; and

Whereas, Congress has failed to pass anti-lynching legislation over

200 times; and

Whereas, In March 2022, the federal Emmett Till Antilynching Act was enacted, making lynching a hate crime under federal law; and

Whereas, This act is named after 14 year old Emmett Till, who was lynched in 1955 in Mississippi; and

Whereas, According to ABC News, the Emmett Till Antilynching Act is the first legislation of its type in more than 100 years to have been enacted; and

Whereas, Despite this enactment, other forms of racial violence exist that need to be addressed through legislation; and

Whereas, The General Assembly expresses its unequivocal support

of the continued use of legislation to remedy historical injustice; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House expresses its unequivocal support to Congress and the President of the United States for the Emmett Till Antilynching Act and the continued use of legislation to remedy historical injustices.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State,

shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

This resolution expresses the General Assembly’s unequivocal support for the Emmett Till Antilynching Act and the continued use of legislation to address historical injustices.

Historically, Congress has failed to pass anti-lynching legislation over 200 times. However, in March 2022, the federal Emmett Till Antilynching Act was enacted, making lynching a hate crime under federal law. This act is the first legislation of its type in more than 100 years. Unfortunately, other forms of racial violence exist that also need to be addressed through legislation, and the General Assembly expresses its unequivocal support of the continued use of legislation to remedy historical injustice.