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Congress·In Committee·7 days ago

Civil Rights: Recognizing the Desegregation of Girard College

Legislative Progress

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Key Points

  • This resolution honors the leaders and activists who fought to end racial discrimination at Girard College in Philadelphia. It specifically highlights the work of local figures like Cecil B. Moore and Raymond Pace Alexander, who led legal battles and protests to allow Black students to attend the school.
  • The school was originally founded in 1848 with a rule that it would only accept "poor white male orphans." Even after the Supreme Court ruled against school segregation in 1954, the college fought to keep its white-only policy for over a decade through various court cases.
  • After 14 years of legal challenges and public demonstrations—including a visit from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—the courts finally forced the school to integrate. The first Black students were admitted in May 1968, marking a major victory for the civil rights movement in the North.
  • By passing this, the House of Representatives officially recognizes these historical efforts to expand civil rights. It also states that the government should continue to support diversity at colleges and universities across the country today.

Milestones

1 milestone2 actions
Feb 23, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Feb 23, 2026

Submitted in House

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Recognizing the desegregation efforts at Girard College in Philadelphia, and the leaders involved in African-American integration and civil rights expansion.

Bill NumberHRES 1071
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(8)
D: 8

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