Bill Text: SC H4057 | 2019-2020 | 123rd General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Isaac W. Williams
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 31-1)
Status: (Passed) 2019-02-21 - Introduced and adopted [H4057 Detail]
Download: South_Carolina-2019-H4057-Introduced.html
A HOUSE RESOLUTION
TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR ISAAC W. WILLIAMS, FOR HIS MANY AND ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Whereas, it is altogether fitting that the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives should pause in their deliberations to commend Isaac W. Williams for his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement in the Palmetto State; and
Whereas, the son of Reverend Willie Williams and Mrs. Inez Williams Brown, he was born in Charleston, attended Charleston County public schools, and graduated from Bonds-Wilson High School in 1963; and
Whereas, Mr. Williams earned a bachelor's degree in professional biology from South Carolina State College in 1967, where he was a leader during the Charleston/Orangeburg efforts for statewide desegregation that would open public accommodations to African Americans in the South; and
Whereas, he was commissioned through the Army ROTC in Army Air Defense in 1967, and in the patriotic tradition of sons of South Carolina, he served his country with distinction on active duty in the United States and Korea from 1967 to 1969; and
Whereas, while a young student, Mr. Williams' activities in the NAACP included serving as president of the South Carolina Conference Youth Division from 1963 to 1967, and as chairman of the NAACP National Youth Work Committee from 1965 to 1967. After completing his military duty, he served as a field director of the NAACP in South Carolina from 1969 to 1983; and
Whereas, throughout the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, Mr. Williams actively participated in sit-ins, kneel-ins, walk-ins, and pray-ins, causing him to be jailed more than seventeen times; and
Whereas, during his administrative service with the NAACP, he filed reapportionment lawsuits to eliminate multi-member districts in the South Carolina House of Representatives and Senate; organized initial efforts to declare Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, birthday a state holiday in South Carolina; and brought attention to the status of inadequate minority housing in the State; and
Whereas, Mr. Williams facilitated investigations into the use of excessive force by police and mobilized citizens in Bowman and St. Matthews to work to improve their local educational system and to be able to elect their local school board members; and
Whereas, he expanded the fundraising ability of the South Carolina Conference of Branches of the NAACP by establishing the Annual Freedom Fund Dinner, which has raised several hundred thousand dollars annually for the South Carolina NAACP, and he founded and organized the South Carolina United Citizens Party; and
Whereas, together with William DeLoach, Mr. Williams spearheaded the successful campaign to elect the Honorable James E. Clyburn to the United States House of Representatives and now serves as a district aide to Congressman Clyburn; and
Whereas, Mr. Williams credited his Civil Rights involvement to his sister, Mildred; his father; Mrs. Mary Lee Davis; and Reverend I. Dequincey Newman, former South Carolina NAACP field director. He has received numerous awards from the NAACP and other social and civic organizations and is listed in Who's Who in America; and
Whereas, he and his beloved wife, Evelyn Tobin Williams, reared three fine children: Dechancela Evette; Isaac, Jr.; and Shelley Nicole; and through a lifetime of service on behalf of others, Mr. Williams has inspired many to follow his example. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Isaac W. Williams for his many and ongoing contributions to the Civil Rights Movement in the State of South Carolina.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Isaac W. Williams.
