Bill > SJR49

This joint resolution commends the Robert Russa Moton Museum for its 25th anniversary and for its role in preserving the history of the civil rights movement, particularly the 75th anniversary of the Robert Russa Moton High School student strike. The museum is housed in the former Robert Russa Moton High School building in Farmville, Virginia, which was a segregated school for Black students. In 1951, students at the school, led by Barbara Johns, went on strike to protest the unequal and unsafe conditions, demanding integration. This student-led action was a pivotal event that led to the landmark Supreme Court case *Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County*, which became part of the basis for the historic *Brown v. Board of Education* ruling that declared state-sponsored segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The resolution highlights the museum's exhibits, its educational programs that teach students about the civil rights movement, and its partnership with Longwood University, recognizing its significant contributions to historical preservation, education, and community stewardship.

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SJ49