Sens. Ossoff & Warnock introduced bipartisan legislation to establish West Hunter Street Baptist Church as National Historic Site honoring Reverend Ralph David Abernathy, Sr.
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff’s bipartisan bill to honor the late Reverend Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. passed a key Senate Committee today.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources advanced Sens. Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock’s bipartisan legislation to establish West Hunter Street Baptist Church as a National Historic Site, protecting and preserving the church’s legacy for generations to come.
Sens. Ossoff and Reverend Warnock introduced the bipartisan, bicameral legislation in February to create the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., National Historic Site in honor of the late 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.
The bill now moves to the full U.S. Senate for consideration.
“Ralph David Abernathy Sr. was a great Georgian, a great American, and a titan of the civil rights movement,” Sen. Ossoff said. “This is why I am working 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.”
“Reverend Abernathy was a towering figure who constantly worked to push our nation toward its highest ideals,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “I am so honored to join my brother, Senator Ossoff, and a bipartisan cohort of lawmakers in introducing legislation to honor Reverend Abernathy’s West Hunter Street Baptist Church as a National Historic Site, so the indelible impacts of his life and legacy will never be forgotten.”
Congresswoman Nikema Williams (D-GA-05) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House alongside Reps. Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), Austin Scott (R-GA-08), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA-02), Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA-01), Lucy McBath (D-GA-07), and David Scott (D-GA-14).
“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. Special acknowledgments to members of the 113th Congress for passing H.R. 4119 approving the Special Resource Study, the National Park Service staff, the Secretary of Interior, Congresswoman Nikema Williams, Senator Jon Ossoff, and all cosponsors of the legislation to create the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. National Historic Site,” said Annette Abernathy, President of the Ralph David Abernathy III Foundation, Inc.
Click here to read the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. National Historic Site Act.
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