Dear Michelle:

      Thank you for contacting me regarding Senate Resolution 39, which
would apologize to the victims of lynching and their descendants for the
Senate’s failure to enact anti-lynching legislation.  I appreciate your
concerns and value the opportunity to respond.

As you may know, I was a sponsor of this legislation which passed on June
13, 2005.  Lynching is a painful reminder of racial hatred and intolerance
in this country.  Between 1882 and 1968, 4,742 people, predominantly
African-Americans, were lynched in the United States.  While three-fourths
of these victims were African-Americans, no race escaped the cruel act that
is so contrary to the rule of law, due process, and equal protection that
we pride ourselves in the United States.  Jewish people, Asians, Hispanics,
American Indians, Italians and others found themselves unprotected.  Such
horrendous acts were not just a regional phenomenon of the South.  States
such as Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and even the Washington D.C. area
experienced mob violence.  Lynching was not just a regional problem; it was
a national crime which occurred in forty-six States of our country.

Despite the national scope of these acts, the Senate failed to pass any of
the nearly 200 anti-lynching bills introduced in Congress during the first
half of the Twentieth Century.  After three bills were passed by the House
of Representatives, they faced filibusters on this Senate floor.

Seven Presidents from 1890 to 1952 asked that such laws be passed.  A
federal law would have afforded more protection to the innocent and would
have brought the resources of the federal government to bear on those
responsible for such egregious acts.  Sadly, only one percent of such acts
were prosecuted by the State or local authorities.  I am proud to say
Virginia passed an anti-lynching law which logically accounts for
relatively fewer lynchings than in other States in our region.

Historians will no doubt disagree as to a single reason why senators
blocked anti-lynching legislation in the 1920’s to 1940’s.  My desire here
is not to get into motivations.  Regardless of their reasoning, our reason
tells us that it was wrong and it is appropriate to apologize for this lack
of action.  Thankfully justice in our Nation has moved forward and left
such despicable acts to history.  In ignoring the protections of our
Founding Fathers that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, the Senate
turned its back on the most helpless in our society at a time when the weak
needed protection.  Contrary to some claims, this simple, dignified apology
is appropriate.  It is not about any reparations.

Once again, I appreciate you alerting me to this matter and hope you will
not hesitate to contact me again about issues important to you.  If you
would like to receive an e-mail newsletter about my initiatives to improve
America, please sign up on my website (http://allen.senate.gov).  It is an
honor to serve you in the United States Senate, and I look forward to
working with you to make Virginia and America a better place to live,
learn, work and raise a family.

With warm regards, I remain



Sincerely,


Senator George Allen