* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL
Introduced by: President Young
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL concerning
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Tuesday, March 8, 2011 - Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Day
FOR the purpose of declaring Tuesday, March 8, 2011, Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Day in Baltimore City; celebrating the 100th anniversary of one of the nation's and Baltimore City's greatest public servants; honoring Mr. Mitchell's tireless efforts to secure the passage of a comprehensive series of civil rights laws; applauding his efforts to secure equal treatment for all Americans; and providing for a special effective date.
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Recitals
Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. (March 8, 1911 - March 19, 1984), born into humble circumstances of a working class family in Baltimore, ascended to the halls of Capitol Hill where he became known as the 101st U.S. Senator for his omnipresence in tirelessly pursuing the passage of a comprehensive series of civil rights laws.
Mr. Mitchell was the pivotal force leading to Congressional passage of the 1957 Civil Rights Act, the 1960 Civil Rights Act, the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and the 1968 Fair Housing Act. In 1969 he won the Spingarn Medal for these efforts. A civil rights activist of world repute, he simultaneously served as the chief lobbyist for the NAACP for 30 years, as well as the organization's regional director.
After his retirement, Mr. Mitchell wrote an editorial column for the Baltimore Sun, which the paper called "an extraordinary commentary on the civil rights movement", every Sunday until his death in 1984. A retired Sun editor, who covered the civil rights struggle in Washington during the 1960s, wrote in his piece on Mitchell that: "There were many fathers to the civil rights victories; even orphans in defeat found themselves liberated. But a goodly share of the paternity belongs to Clarence Mitchell. His city honored him posthumously by naming its courthouse after him. He was, indeed, one of the leading Marylanders of the 20th century."
On March 23, 1984, his going home ceremony at Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church was attended by an overflow crowd of some 2,500 mourners who gathered from around the country to pay their respects. In attendance were common folks whose lives he had enriched, as well as the political dignitaries of federal, state, and local government. In eulogy, the Senate Minority leader said: "In those days, Clarence Mitchell was called the 101st senator, but those of us who served here then knew full well that this magnificent lion in the lobby was a great deal more influential than most of us with seats in the chamber."
The contributions of Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr., Baltimore's native son, to the strengthening of American democracy extended beyond his hometown and state to the entire nation. For those contributions and the gentle but firm lessons in negotiating for the better good that are his legacy, we all share an abiding appreciation.
SECTION 1. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body hereby declares Tuesday, March 8, 2011, Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Day in Baltimore City; celebrates the 100th anniversary of one of the nation's and Baltimore City's greatest public servants; honors Mr. Mitchell's tireless efforts to secure the passage of a comprehensive series of civil rights laws; and applauds his efforts to secure equal treatment for all Americans.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the family of Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr., and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this Resolution takes effect on date it is enacted.
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