HJ 665 — Commending the South Hampton Roads Bar Association.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 23105426D I HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

665 E N Offered February 13, 2023 Commending the South Hampton Roads Bar As––––––––––Association. T Patrons––Williams Graves (By Request), Bagby, Clark, Convirs-Fowler, Guzman, Hope, Hudson, KoryR Lopez, Maldonado, Rasoul, Scott, D.L., Seibold, Simon, Simonds and Subramanyam;

Senators:Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 20, 2023 R Agreed to by the Senate, February 23, 2023 O L African American legal community in the region;

Cosgrove,andBar Lucas,Association Rousehas served and Spruillsupported Othe –––––––––– D WHEREAS, for 100 years, the South Hampton Roads Bar Association hasis servedmostly andmade supportedup theof African AmericanAmericans L who work as judges, attorneys, and legal communitystudents in the region;Hampton Roads area and is the oldest E preWHEREAS, originally known as the Tidewater Bar Association, the South Hampton Roads Bar D Association was established in October 1923 by a group of local African American attorneys.

andThe Uoriginal whoofficers workwere asWalter judges,L. attorneys, and legal students in the Hampton Roads area and is the oldest C predominantly African American bar association in Virginia and the United States;

and E WHEREAS, originally known as the Tidewater Bar Association, the South Hampton Roads Bar Association was established in October 1923 by a group of local African American attorneys.

TheD original officers were Walter L.

and WHEREAS,associations, facingthe prejudiceTidewater againstBar AfricanAssociation Americanreorganized attorneysmultiple andtimes, judgesbecoming bythe otherTwin localCity barBar Association and finally the South Hampton Roads Bar Association;

andes,and becoming the Twin City Bar WHEREAS, the South Hampton Roads Bar Association persevered and increased its influence in H African American communities despite discriminatory stances by other regional and national bar associations6 andassWHEREAS, ultimatelyafter succeededthe inSouth achievingHampton diversityRoads onBar Association was founded, its members continued to E fight against the benchlegal insegregation Hamptonand Roads;discrimination established at the local and state levels;

andHthey WHEREAS,also aftercollaborated thewith Southregional Hamptongroups Roadslike Barthe AssociationNAACP wasLegal founded,Defense itsFund membersto continuedaddress to6important fightissues againstsuch theas legalresidential segregationsegregation, andinadequate discriminationfunding establishedfor atpublic theschools, local and stateunequal level5;teacher salaries;

they also collaborated with regional groups like the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to address important issues such as WHEREAS, the South Hampton Roads Bar Association gives its members the tools and support they and need to succeed professionally and personally, and it has embraced its duties to represent and empower underrepresented and underserved members of the community;

and WHEREAS, the South Hampton Roads Bar Association has earned its reputation as a dependable advocate for Hampton Roads legal professionals and strives to always be a voice for social justice and communitycomWHEREAS, involvement;during its 100th year, the South Hampton Roads Bar Association will honor the legacies of those who founded and have made significant contributions to the organization, including President Emeritus William T.

andMason, WHEREAS,Jr., duringwho was one of its 100thlongest year,living members and who was dedicated to theWHEREAS, the South Hampton Roads Bar Association will commemorate its decades of achievements and honor the legacieslife :and legacy of President Emeritus William T.

33Mason, EmeritusJr., Williamat T.a gala event on April 15, 2023;

Mason,now, Jr.,therefore, whobe wasit oneRESOLVED ofby its longest living members and who was dedicated toent 34 the bettermentHouse of Delegates, the legalSenate communityconcurring, inThat the CommonwealthGeneral andAssembly beyond;hereby 15, 2023;

andand, /be 35itmpton WHEREAS,Roads Bar Association on the occasion of its 100th anniversary on April RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the South Hampton Roads Bar Association willas commemoratean itsexpression decades of /the 36General achievementsAssembly's andadmiration honorfor the lifeorganization's andachievements legacyin service to the residents of PresidentHampton EmeritusRoads, Williamthe T.Commonwealth, and the United States.

Mason, Jr., at a gala event 37 on April 15, 2023;

now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the South Hampton Roads Bar Association on the occasion of its 100th anniversary on April 15,RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the South Hampton Roads Bar Association as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the organization's achievements in service to the residents of Hampton Roads, the Commonwealth, and the United States.