Overview

Title

Condemning the atrocities that occurred in New Orleans, Louisiana, on July 30, 1866, in which a White supremacist mob brutalized, terrorized, and killed dozens of Black Americans, and reaffirming the commitment of the House of Representatives to supporting the fundamental right to vote and to combating hatred, injustice, and White supremacy.

ELI5 AI

The bill is like a big promise to remember a very sad day long ago when some people were very mean to others in New Orleans. It also says that everyone should be able to vote and be treated fairly, but it doesn't explain exactly how they'll make that happen.

Summary AI

H. RES. 1359 is a resolution condemning the atrocities committed by a White supremacist mob in New Orleans on July 30, 1866, resulting in the brutalization, terrorization, and death of dozens of Black Americans. The resolution honors the memory of the victims and acknowledges the event's impact on the Black community. It also recognizes the influence of this incident on important federal legislation like the Reconstruction Act and constitutional amendments aimed at promoting civil rights and inclusive democracy. The resolution reaffirms the commitment of the Federal Government to ensure meaningful universal voting rights, combat White supremacy, and seek reconciliation for racial injustice.

Published

2024-07-15
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2024-07-15
Package ID: BILLS-118hres1359ih

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
1
Words:
401
Pages:
7
Sentences:
5

Language

Nouns: 131
Verbs: 40
Adjectives: 19
Adverbs: 1
Numbers: 15
Entities: 50

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.61
Average Sentence Length:
80.20
Token Entropy:
4.39
Readability (ARI):
43.99

AnalysisAI

The resolution, H. RES. 1359, introduced in the House of Representatives, condemns the violent events that occurred in New Orleans on July 30, 1866, in which a white supremacist mob attacked Black Americans who were advocating for voting rights. It highlights the aftermath of the Civil War when states like Louisiana enacted "Black Codes" to suppress Black citizens' rights. The resolution commemorates those who suffered and died and reaffirms the House's commitment to fighting racial injustice and upholding voting rights.

General Summary of the Bill

The proposed resolution addresses a historic attack on Black Americans by explicitly condemning the violence in New Orleans, 1866, perpetrated by a white supremacist mob. It honors those who lost their lives, acknowledges the pivotal role that these events played in shaping federal civil rights legislation—such as the Reconstruction Act and the amendments that followed—and reaffirms the ongoing commitment to achieving universal voting rights and combating white supremacy. Additionally, it supports the establishment of a national day of remembrance for victims of racial violence, seeking reconciliation and acknowledgment of past wrongs.

Significant Issues

While the resolution powerfully condemns historical atrocities and signals strong commitments, it lacks specific proposals or actionable steps that would help implement these commitments. The resolution recognizes unresolved goals from historical legislation but does not outline how these objectives will be fulfilled today, leaving it open to interpretation how current measures and policies might evolve. Furthermore, while it proposes a day of remembrance for victims, the lack of detail on enacting such a commemoration could result in practical challenges or dissatisfaction.

Impact on the Public

Broadly, this resolution is a crucial acknowledgment of historical injustices, potentially fostering a national conversation around racial violence and voting rights. By reaffirming commitments to combat racial inequality, it could inspire public trust in the government's dedication to these ongoing issues. However, without explicit actions, it might raise questions regarding what tangible changes the government is prepared to make. This could either spur further legislative action and involvement or lead to skepticism about the depth of governmental commitments.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

The resolution has significant impact on both positive and negative spectrums among various stakeholders:

  • Black Communities: It acknowledges past atrocities and may serve as validation of their historical experiences, providing a degree of reconciliation. However, the lack of clear actionable steps might engender frustration if it appears the resolution is purely symbolic without leading to real change.

  • Advocacy Groups: Organizations focusing on civil rights and racial justice would likely view this resolution as a positive step toward bringing past and present injustices to the forefront. Nevertheless, the absence of concrete measures may compel these groups to continue pressing for more definitive governmental actions.

  • Legislators and Policymakers: For those actively involved in writing and passing legislation, this resolution might represent a call to action to develop more targeted policies. It could pressure them into crafting specific programs and legal reforms to fulfill the resolution's commitments.

The resolution's symbolic impact is undeniable, but its potential effectiveness lies in subsequent actions and legislative efforts it might inspire. Therefore, it stands as an essential marker in the national discourse on race and voting rights but also leaves room for further development and engagement.

Issues

  • While the bill clearly condemns past atrocities and reaffirms certain commitments, it lacks concrete proposals on how the Federal Government plans to combat ongoing issues like White supremacy and how it intends to ensure universal voting rights. This ambiguity could be politically significant as it might affect public expectations and trust.

  • The bill refers to 'unrealized goals' of past legislation without specifying actionable steps or policies that would be undertaken to achieve these goals. This lack of specifics might lead to legal and ethical concerns given the historical importance of the issues it addresses.

  • Although the bill proposes a national day of remembrance, it does not outline specific plans or processes for establishing this observance. This lack of detail could hinder the effectiveness of the proposed commemoration, potentially leading to public or political dissatisfaction.

  • The overall structure of the bill, as noted in the sections, is straightforward but might benefit from the inclusion of additional programs or policies that specifically address how to realize the bill's stated goals, such as educational initiatives about historical injustices.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

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Summary AI

The House of Representatives condemns the 1866 massacre of voting rights organizers in New Orleans by a white supremacist mob and honors the victims. It acknowledges the historical significance of this event in promoting inclusive democracy and emphasizes ongoing efforts to secure voting rights and combat racial injustice, while supporting a national day of remembrance for victims of racial violence.