H.R. No. 865

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The year 2010 marked the centennial of the Slocum
	massacre, a horrific incident in our state's history and one that is
	deserving of attention and discussion; and
	WHEREAS, In the summer of 1910, racial tensions were running
	high in East Texas after the lynching of an African American in
	Cherokee County and the subsequent rumors of unrest among area
	blacks; in the small community of Slocum, in Anderson County, the
	atmosphere grew more heated when a dispute arose between an African
	American resident and a white man over an unpaid debt; around the
	same time, several whites in the area had become incensed over what
	they viewed as inappropriate behavior by certain blacks; in late
	July, these factors combined to touch off a violent and deadly
	attack; and
	WHEREAS, A mob of white men brandishing rifles, shotguns, and
	pistols descended on Slocum and began firing on unarmed African
	Americans; the attackers were estimated to number as many as 1,000
	people, and their bloody rampage took a heavy toll; the murder of
	eight people was confirmed, and reports indicated that many more
	may have died in what became known as the Slocum massacre; and
	WHEREAS, The incident was reported in newspapers across the
	nation, and Texas Rangers and state militia were sent to the area to
	prevent further bloodshed; an investigation by an Anderson County
	grand jury overseen by Judge B. H. Gardner of Palestine led to the
	indictment of seven people, including Jim Spurger, who was believed
	to have been a prime instigator in the attacks; because of the
	emotions surrounding the case, Judge Gardner moved the trial to
	Harris County, but it was there that the wheels of justice stopped
	turning; the prosecuting attorney never brought the case to trial,
	and no one was ever convicted of the crimes; and
	WHEREAS, In Slocum, the African American survivors mourned
	their lost friends and loved ones and lived in fear of further
	violence; ultimately, many of them chose to move away, abandoning
	homes, stores, and farms; ancestors of the Hollie family suffered
	the loss of one son and the wounding of another, and they were
	forced to abandon property that included a home, a store, and
	several hundred acres of farmland; and
	WHEREAS, The event wreaked devastation in the lives of
	African Americans living in the area, yet it has since been largely
	ignored, receiving no formal acknowledgment by state or local
	officials and little coverage in historical accounts of the era;
	and
	WHEREAS, Only by shining a light on previous injustices can
	we learn from them and move toward a future of greater healing and
	reconciliation; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
	Legislature hereby acknowledge the Slocum massacre of 1910.
	Veasey
	Burnam
	Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison
	Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr.
	Allen Gooden Murphy
	Alonzo Guillen Naishtat
	Alvarado Gutierrez Nash
	Anchia Hamilton Oliveira
	Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr
	Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto
	Aycock Harless Parker
	Beck Harper-Brown Patrick
	Berman Hartnett Paxton
	Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena
	Bonnen Hilderbran Perry
	Branch Hochberg Phillips
	Brown Hopson Pickett
	Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts
	Burnam Howard of Travis Price
	Button Huberty Quintanilla
	Cain Hughes Raymond
	Callegari Hunter Reynolds
	Carter Isaac Riddle
	Castro Jackson Ritter
	Chisum Johnson Rodriguez
	Christian Keffer Schwertner
	Coleman King of Parker Scott
	Cook King of Taylor Sheets
	Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield
	Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton
	Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson
	Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris
	Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant
	J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee
	S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons
	Deshotel Lavender Strama
	Driver Legler Taylor of Collin
	Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston
	Dutton Lozano Thompson
	Eiland Lucio III Torres
	Eissler Lyne Truitt
	Elkins Madden Turner
	Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
	Farrar Margo Villarreal
	Fletcher Marquez Vo
	Flynn Martinez Walle
	Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber
	Gallego McClendon White
	Garza Menendez Woolley
	Geren Miles Workman
	Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler
	Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 865 was adopted by the House on March
	30, 2011, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House