1Honoring Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela for his lifelong dedication
2to building a more equitable and united world.

3WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela was born July 18, 1918, in Transkei,
4South Africa; and

5WHEREAS, After years of exposure to the inhumanities of
6apartheid, a system of legalized segregation policies enforced
7by the ruling National Party, Nelson Mandela began working to
8promote the advancement of human rights issues in South Africa;
9and

10WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela attended the University College of
11Fort Hare and studied law at the University of Witwatersrand,
12where he later earned a degree in law; and

13WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela joined the African National Congress
14in 1944, a liberation group that opposed the apartheid policies
15enforced by the National Party; and

16WHEREAS, In 1963, Nelson Mandela and others were found guilty
17and charged with life in prison for sabotage, treason and
18violent conspiracy against the government, in what is now known

1as the Rivonia Trial; and

2WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 27 years, 6
3months and 1 week with much of the time spent at the notorious
4Robben Island Prison, located in Cape Town, South Africa; and

5WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela never surrendered his political
6principles while in prison; and

7WHEREAS, On February 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela was released
8from prison under South Africa's President, F. W. de Klerk; and

9WHEREAS, On the day of his release, Nelson Mandela quoted his
10famous words from the Rivonia Trial, "I have fought against
11white domination and I have fought against black domination. I
12have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in
13which all persons live together in harmony and with equal
14opportunities"; and

15WHEREAS, With the collapse of apartheid, Nelson Mandela
16peacefully guided the transition of South Africa into a
17nonracial democracy, unifying a once-divided people; and

18WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela became the first democratically
19elected president of the African National Congress in 1994; and

20WHEREAS, During his presidency, Nelson Mandela formed the
21Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which investigated and
22studied human rights violations, housing issues, educational
23policies and economic development standards in South Africa; and

24WHEREAS, In 1996, South Africa enacted its first democratic
25constitution, which was overseen by Nelson Mandela; and

26WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela continues to strive to make the world
27a better place to live; and

28WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela's accomplishments have been
29acknowledged by more than 250 awards, including the Nobel Peace
30Prize and the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom;

1therefore be it

2RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor Nelson
3Rolihlahla Mandela for his lifelong dedication to building a
4more equitable and united world.