HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 31
(By Delegate Kelley)



Honoring Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and making him an honorary citizen of West Virginia.
Whereas, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, who was born July 18, 1918, and educated in South Africa, became the President of the African National Congress, President of South Africa and recipient of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, but was earlier in his life sentenced to prison for his political and social beliefs and practices; and
Whereas, He was sentenced to jail for five years in November, 1962, for leaving the country illegally and for incitement to strike, and while serving that sentence was charged and convicted of sabotage and then sentenced to life imprisonment; and
Whereas, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was released from prison on February 11, 1990, and continued his devotion to democracy, equality and learning. He was elected President of the African National Congress and in 1993 he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of all South Africans who suffered and sacrificed so much to bring peace to that country; and
Whereas, His life and legacy can be summed up in the words he spoke during the Rivonia trial, when he said "I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die"; and
Whereas, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, humanitarian, advocate and fighter against apartheid and racial discrimination ("I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or a white man"), was imprisoned for twenty-eight years for his ideals and beliefs, and stands as a shining example of the human spirit for freedom and has beliefs commensurate with the love of freedom of West Virginians; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That its members declare that and extend to Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, President of South Africa, its honor and respect and declare that he be made an honorary citizen of the State of West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, President of South Africa.