; Whereas John Brown’s liberation tactics, which included his participation in the violent conflict known as Bleeding Kansas as well as his raid on Harpers Ferry in then-Virginia, influenced the course of the Nation’s history; Whereas the raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859, orchestrated by John Brown, was a watershed moment that sparked national debate on slavery and fast-tracked the Nation toward the Civil War and ultimately the Emancipation Proclamation; Whereas John Brown’s sacrifice in the face of oppressive powers was a demonstration of his profound belief in liberty; Whereas John Brown’s liberation tactics played a pivotal role in pushing our Nation toward the fulfillment of its founding principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; Whereas recognition of John Brown’s contribution to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness fosters a better understanding of the struggles faced in our journey toward the abolition of the horrific crime against humanity known as slavery; Whereas John Brown’s life and legacy evoke reflection on our Nation’s history and the high cost of liberty; Whereas, like Crispus Attucks, John Brown should be honored for sacrificing his life in the name of liberty; and Whereas, just as Paul Revere’s midnight ride was a harbinger of the battle between the colonies and Britain to come, John Brown’s raid on the Federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry to initiate a slave revolution was a harbinger of the war between slave and free States to come: Now, therefore, be it