HomeMy WebLinkAbout17030 1 RESOLUTION NO. 17,030
2
3 A RESOLUTION TO ENDORSE A SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY BY THE
4 U.S.SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR OF THE HOME OF MR. SCIPIO A.
5 JONES FOR ITS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, SUITABILITY, AND
6 FEASIBILITY OF BEING DECLARED A NATIONAL HISTORIC LAND-
7 MARK OR AFFILIATED AREA OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM; TO
8 CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE HOME
9 BY THE FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT; AND FOR
10 OTHER PURPOSES.
11
12 WHEREAS,Mr.Scipio Africanus Jones was a school teacher,businessman,attorney,and leader within
13 the City of Little Rock,Arkansas("the City"),between the years of 1885 and his death in 1943;and,
14 WHEREAS, some of the distinctions he held included reading law with Judge T.B. Martin and S.A.
15 Kilgore,and serving as an apprentice under Circuit Judge Robert J.Lea,until he was accepted as a member
16 of the Arkansas Bar in 1889; and,
17 WHEREAS, he was a prominent member of the Arkansas Republican Party and a delegate to several
18 Republican National Conventions;and,
19 WHEREAS, he was the first lawyer in Arkansas to challenge the practice of not permitting African-
20 Americans from serving on either a petit or grand jury;and,
21 WHEREAS, his representation of African-American defendants sentenced to death for their involve-
22 ment in the Elaine Massacre of October 1919 resulted in the U.S.Supreme Court case of Moore v.Dempsey,
23 261 U.S. 86 (1923), a case which concluded that if a trial is unfair, although it appears to have followed
24 procedure,then justice will not let the outcome stand;
25 NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY
26 OF LITTLE ROCK,ARKANSAS:
27 Section 1. The City endorses and commends the effort of Congressman French Hill to have the De-
28 partment of the Interior research and prepare a report which studies the life of Mr. Scipio A. Jones deter-
29 mines the appropriateness of his home being listed as a National Historic Landmark or Affiliated Area of
30 the National Park System.
31 Section 2. The City declares that it will take all steps necessary to assist in such a review and report
32 with the goal being to provide proper recognition for an outstanding citizen and civil leader, Mr. Scipio A.
33 Jones.
[Page 1 of 21
1 Section 3. Severability. In the event any title, section, paragraph, item, sentence, clause, phrase, or
2 word of this resolution is declared or adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration or adju-
3 dication shall not affect the remaining portions of the resolution which shall remain in full force and effect
4 as if the portion so declared or adjudged invalid or unconstitutional were not originally a part of the reso-
5 lution.
6 Section 4.Repealer.All laws,ordinances, resolutions, or parts of the same,that are inconsistent with
7 the provisions of this resolution,are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
8 ADOPTED:April 21,2026
9 ATTEST: APPROVED:
10
11111
12 ASIANV
13 Allison Segars,City "4 Frank Scott,Jr.,Mayor
14 APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
15
16
17 j,--\,„
18 Thomas M.Carpenter,City Atto ey
19 //
20 //
21 //
22 //
23 //
24 //
25 //
26 //
27 //
28 //
29 //
30 //
31 //
32 //
33 //
34 //
'Page 2 of 21