To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Reverend James Morris Lawson, Jr., in recognition of his contributions to the United States through the promotion of nonviolence during the Civil Rights movement and beyond.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · June 14, 2024
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
This bill authorizes Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Reverend James Lawson, Jr., in recognition of his pivotal role in the Civil Rights movement and his lifelong advocacy for nonviolent resistance to racism and social injustice. Reverend Lawson studied Mohandas Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent resistance in India and brought those teachings to the United States, where he trained civil rights activists in nonviolent tactics and advised major campaigns including the Nashville sit-ins, Freedom Rides, and the 1965 Selma Voting Rights Movement. The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design and strike a gold medal bearing Reverend Lawson's image and name, with the costs paid through the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund. The Secretary is also authorized to produce and sell duplicate bronze medals, with proceeds from those sales returned to the fund. The legislation recognizes Reverend Lawson's influence on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his lasting impact on creating what King called "a beloved community" based on respect, dignity, and nonviolence.
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