Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., National Historic Site Act
Summary
S. 2102 would establish the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. National Historic Site as a unit of the National Park System. The site would be located at West Hunter Street Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, where Reverend Abernathy served as senior pastor for nearly 30 years beginning in 1961. The bill would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land for the site through donation, purchase from willing sellers, or exchange, and would preserve and interpret the area's significance to the Civil Rights Movement. Reverend Abernathy was a key figure in the civil rights era, co-founding the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., helping organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and leading efforts to combat segregation and secure voting rights. If enacted, this bill would create a new national historic site recognizing Abernathy's contributions to American history and civil rights. The bill has passed committee review and is eligible for a floor vote in the Senate.
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