Whereas August 27, 1960, was the largest civil rights demonstration in Jacksonville, Florida, history; Whereas several brave activists—many teenagers—hosted a sit-in at a Jacksonville Whites-only lunch counter, where they endured verbal and physical abuse from White customers; Whereas after weeks of peaceful lunch counter protests, a violent backlash occurred; Whereas Jacksonville NAACP President Rutledge Pearson, Jacksonville Youth Council NAACP member Rodney Hurst, and other community activists fought for social injustice by demonstrating at Hemming Park; Whereas rioters planted and passed out ax handles and began brutally beating the demonstrators on what is now known as Ax Handle Saturday; Whereas it was reported that authorities stood idly by, leaving citizens and the peaceful protestors comprised of young students defenseless in the face of the violent mob; Whereas the activists confronted racist laws and discriminatory practices, and risked their lives and reputations at Hemming Park, to dismantle Jim Crow policies; Whereas there are only three survivors still alive, Spencer Meeks, Rodney Hurst, and Marjorie Meeks Brown; and Whereas this year is the 60-year anniversary of Ax Handle Saturday: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) expresses support for the designation of Hemming Park as part of the National Park Service’s African American Civil Rights Network in Jacksonville, Florida; and (2) recognizes that— (A) Hemming Park stood at the center of the 1960s race riots in Jacksonville, Florida, where ax handles were used to beat African Americans who were attempting to desegregate lunch counters; and (B) designating Hemming Park as part of the National Park Service’s African American Civil Rights Network will mark the day of the Ax Handle Saturday attack as a reminder of what happened and honor those who stood up for justice.