Sens. Ossoff & Rev. Warnock reintroduced bipartisan legislation to establish West Hunter Street Baptist Church as National Historic Site honoring Reverend Ralph David Abernathy, Sr.
Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-05) introduced the companion bill in the U.S. House
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock are again pushing to recognize Atlanta’s West Hunter Street Baptist Church as a National Historic Site in honor of the late Reverend Ralph David Abernathy, Sr.
Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock last week introduced legislation to establish West Hunter Street Baptist Church as a National Historic Site, protecting and preserving the church’s legacy for generations to come.
The Georgia lawmakers are pushing to name the historic site for Reverend Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., a prominent civil rights leader who began his pastoral service at the church in 1961 and served for nearly three decades.
“Ralph David Abernathy Sr. was a great Georgian, a great American, and a titan of the civil rights movement,” said Sen. Ossoff. “This is why Senator Reverend Warnock and I are working together to establish Atlanta’s West Hunter Street Baptist Church as a National Historic Site and preserve the legacies of Reverend Abernathy, his wife Juanita, and the church.”
“This legislation would honor West Hunter Street Baptist Church’s significance in the Civil Rights Movement and recognize the moral courage of Reverend Ralph David Abernathy Sr.,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “As a pastor of Dr. King’s spiritual home, I remain committed to preserving Georgia’s history and uplifting the power of faith in action. I am proud to work with Senator Ossoff on this effort.”
“On behalf of the Ralph David Abernathy, III Foundation, Inc., and the entire Abernathy family, we are grateful to have this legislation introduced to commemorate the life, contributions, and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., for his significant role and leadership of the modern-day Civil Rights Movement,” said Annette Abernathy, President of the Ralph David Abernathy III Foundation, Inc. “Special acknowledgments to members of the nonpartisan 113th Congress for passing H.R. 4119 approving the Special Resource Study, the National Park Service staff, the Secretary of Interior, the late Senator Johnny Isakson, Senator Raphael Warnock, Senator Jon Ossoff, the late Congressman John Lewis, Congresswoman Nikema Williams, Congressmen, Hank Johnson, and Congressmen Austin Scott and all cosponsors of the legislation to create the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. National Historic Site.”
In 2023, the Senators brought Republicans and Democrats together to pass the bill through a key Senate Committee and are now continuing their work to pass the bill into law.
Click here to read the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., National Historic Site Act.
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