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Maine Senate adopts joint resolutions honoring Frederick Douglass, 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' anniversary and Bayard Rustin
Summary
The Maine Senate on Tuesday adopted joint resolutions recognizing the life and work of Frederick Douglass, marking the anniversary of James Weldon Johnson’s "Lift Every Voice and Sing," and honoring Bayard Rustin; all three measures were moved on the floor and sent down for concurrence.
The Maine Senate adopted several joint resolutions on Tuesday honoring historical civil-rights figures and milestones.
Senators moved and the chamber adopted joint resolutions recognizing the life and work of Frederick Douglass, marking the anniversary of James Weldon Johnson’s poem and song "Lift Every Voice and Sing," and recognizing Bayard Rustin’s contributions to the civil-rights movement. Each resolution was presented on the floor, read in full by the secretary, and the mover asked that it be adopted and sent down for concurrence in the House.
Senator Dusan presented the resolution honoring Frederick Douglass, reciting Douglass’s biography as included in the resolution and noting Douglass’s visits to Maine in the 19th century. The resolution traces Douglass’s life from his 1818 birth in Talbot County, Maryland, through his self-education, publishing and speaking career, federal appointments after Reconstruction, and visits to Maine in 1855, 1857, 1864, 1873 and 1877.
Senator Talbot Ross presented the joint resolution recognizing the anniversary of James Weldon Johnson’s "Lift Every Voice and Sing," describing Johnson’s role in the Harlem Renaissance, his diplomatic service and the poem’s place in American music history. The resolution marks the work’s long-standing place in American cultural and civil-rights history; the transcript language referred to the anniversary year in imprecise terms, and the resolution text was read on the floor. (James Weldon Johnson wrote "Lift Every Voice and Sing" in 1900; 2025 marks the 125th anniversary of that composition.)
Senator Dusan also presented the joint resolution recognizing the life of Bayard Rustin, summarizing Rustin’s organizing and civil-rights work, his role in planning the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, leadership of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, later humanitarian missions, advocacy around HIV/AIDS and the posthumous awarding of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
All three joint resolutions were moved on the floor as presented and the chair called for adoption and transmission to the House for concurrence. The transcript records the presentations and motions to adopt and send each resolution down for concurrence; no roll-call vote tallies are given in the provided excerpt.
