Bill Text: MS SC585 | 2014 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Mourn the untimely death of Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba and commend his legacy.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-5)
Status: (Passed) 2014-03-17 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC585 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-SC585-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Frazier, Horhn, Blount, Norwood, Longwitz, Browning, Butler (36th), Carmichael, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Kirby, Montgomery, Parker, Simmons (13th), Stone
Senate Concurrent Resolution 585
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF JACKSON MAYOR CHOKWE LUMUMBA AND COMMENDING HIS SPIRIT OF COOPERATION, DETERMINATION AND SELFLESS SERVICE.
WHEREAS, Honorable Chokwe Lumumba, the 52nd Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, passed away on February 25, 2014; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Chokwe Lumumba spent just under eight months as Mayor of Mississippi's largest city, but Chokwe Lumumba left behind the legacy of a lifetime. Even in a matter of months he was able to build a lasting legacy of progress; and
WHEREAS, a Civil Rights Activist, Lumumba was also a nationally renowned lawyer, with an impressive list of high-profile clients. He represented clients in over 16 jurisdictions, including Canada and the Choctaw Court. Lumumba won settlements and/or judgments for victims of medical malpractice, employment discrimination, sexual harassment and police misconduct. He served on the Jackson City Council, vacating the seat in his first term when he decided to run for Mayor. That campaign drew national attention. The election of Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba made news as far away as Africa, and U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson expects the news of the Civil Rights leader's unexpected death to circle the globe. "He was everybody's Mayor, somebody who was approachable and very thoughtful. He was about the people of Jackson." Civil Rights Activist Stephanie Parker-Weaver said Lumumba "could pick up the phone and call leaders, not only nationally, but internationally"; and
WHEREAS, a native of Detroit, Lumumba attended Wayne State University Law School. When he won a spot in the Mayoral runoff, he told cheering supporters: "Being accused of being a militant is nothing new," Lumumba said. "Fannie Lou Hamer was a militant. Medgar Evers was a militant. Martin Luther King was a militant. In pursuit of good interests, there is nothing wrong with being militant"; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Lumumba is being remembered as a man who valued cooperation and progress above politics, credit or blame. Metro leaders and politicians on the opposite end of the political spectrum say he was open, hardworking and interested in achieving great things not only for Jackson but for the Metro area as a whole; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Lumumba attacked several projects with an eye toward building coalitions that could lead to progress. His signature achievement will easily be the passage of a One Cent sales tax that will help fund critical water, sewer and road infrastructure improvements. Because of his leadership, the referendum passed with 90% support; and
WHEREAS, "His door was open. He wanted to know what was going on with all kinds of projects," recalled Ben Allen, head of Downtown Jackson Partners, and, like Lumumba, a former Jackson City Councilman. "He was incredibly open and good to work with." Jackson's economic frontier, its infrastructure, job creation and retention, seeing Metrocenter, the Convention Center Hotel, the entertainment district through, now again is passed to someone else; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Lumumba was a widower, a father, a basketball fan, an attorney, he was polite, soft-spoken, humorous, smart and very focused. He was preceded in death by his wife of 32 years, Nubia A. Lumumba. He is survived by three children: Kambon Mutope, Chokwe Antar Lumumba and Rukia Kai Lumumba; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Lumumba's legacy is well intact. He gave Jackson new life, even in the twilight of his own, and his contributions will not be forgotten. It is with sadness that we note the passing of this passionate public official:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby mourn the untimely death of Jackson, Mississippi's 52nd Mayor, the Honorable Chokwe Lumumba, commend his many contributions of cooperation, determination and selfless service to his community and state, and extend our sympathy to his surviving family.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, forwarded to the Acting Mayor and City Council of the City of Jackson, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
