Bill Text: PA HR892 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Designating July 18, 2011, and each July 18 thereafter as "Nelson Mandela International Day" in Pennsylvania.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 35-10)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-08-24 - Referred to RULES [HR892 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HR892-Introduced.html

---

PRINTER'S NO. 4155
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 892 Session of2010
INTRODUCED BY WATERS, COHEN, BROWN, YUDICHAK, KORTZ, BISHOP, BOYLE, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, DALEY, DENLINGER, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, D. EVANS, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GRUCELA, HARKINS, HARPER, HENNESSEY, JOSEPHS, LEVDANSKY, MANN, MATZIE, MIRABITO, OLIVER, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PAYTON, PHILLIPS, PRESTON, PYLE, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROEBUCK, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SHAPIRO, SIPTROTH, M. SMITH, R. TAYLOR AND YOUNGBLOOD, AUGUST 24, 2010
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, AUGUST 24, 2010
A RESOLUTION
Designating July 18, 2011, and each July 18 thereafter as
"Nelson Mandela International Day" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela was born July 18, 1918, in Cape of
Good Hope, South Africa; and
WHEREAS, After years of exposure to the inhumanities of
apartheid, a system of legalized segregation policies enforced
by the ruling National Party, Nelson Mandela began working to
promote the advancement of human rights issues in South Africa;
and
WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela attended the University College of
Fort Hare and studied law at the University of Witwatersrand,
where he later earned a degree in law; and
WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela joined the African National Congress
in 1944, a liberation group that opposed the apartheid policies
enforced by the National Party; and
- 1 -
WHEREAS, In 1963, Nelson Mandela and others were found guilty
and charged with life in prison for sabotage, treason and
violent conspiracy against the government, in what is now known
as the Rivonia Trial; and
WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela was incarcerated from 1964 to 1988,
much of the time spent at the notorious Robben Island Prison,
located in Cape Town, South Africa; and
WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela never surrendered his political
principles while in prison, and
WHEREAS, On February 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela was released
from prison under South Africa's President, F. W. de Klerk; and
WHEREAS, After 26 years locked in prison, Nelson Mandela
emerged to lead South Africa's transition from the division of
apartheid to an integrated, multiracial democracy; and
WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in
December 1993 for laying the foundation for a new democratic
South Africa; and
WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela became the first democratically
elected president of the African National Congress in 1994; and
WHEREAS, During his presidency, Nelson Mandela formed the
Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which investigated and
studied human rights violations, housing issues, educational
policies and economic development standards in South Africa; and
WHEREAS, In 1996, South Africa enacted its first democratic
constitution, which was overseen by Nelson Mandela; and
WHEREAS, Since retiring in 1999, Nelson Mandela continues to
actively pursue advancements in racial equality throughout South
Africa and the rest of the world; and
WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela's accomplishments have been
acknowledged by more than 100 awards, and he continues to
- 2 -
actively petition for renewed efforts to combat the growing AIDS
epidemic; and
WHEREAS, In 2009, the United States joined 192 other United
Nations member states in supporting the creation of "Nelson
Mandela International Day," and its first observance on July 18,
2010, honored Nelson Mandela's extraordinary contributions and
lifelong commitment to justice and human dignity; therefore be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate July
18, 2011, and each July 18 thereafter as "Nelson Mandela
International Day" in Pennsylvania in recognition of his
lifelong contribution to a culture of freedom and peace and call
upon the citizens of Pennsylvania to engage in some form of
service to others to make the world a better place, one small
step at a time, just as Nelson Mandela did.
- 3 -