The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has adopted a resolution honoring civil rights activist and West Chester native Bayard Rustin, writes staff for The Unionville Times.
House Resolution 86 was introduced by state representative Andre D. Carroll (D-Phila), and designates Mar. 17—Rustin’s birthday—as Bayard Rustin Day across the state. The resolution was officially adopted on Mar. 19.
Born in West Chester, Rustin was a prominent figure in the American Civil Rights Movement. A close organizer with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he was the chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, one of the most prominent demonstrations of nonviolent protest in the history of the United States.
An advocate for both racial justice and LGBTQ+ rights, he later co-founded the Congress of Racial Equity and participated in the Journey of Reconciliation to oppose racial segregation on interstate buses.
Rustin’s lifelong contributions to the American Civil Rights Movement shaped the trajectory of American human rights in the decades since, all while being a hero local to Chester County.
“I’m very glad to see that our commonwealth is taking a righteous step to honor and bring awareness to his legacy and invaluable contributions to our nation,” said Representative Carroll.
Read more about Bayard Rustin Day and the PA House of Representatives resolution honoring his life and work in The Unionville Times.
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