1Honoring the life of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

2WHEREAS, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, former prisoner of
3conscience and President of South Africa, was a beacon of hope,
4equality and justice for people throughout the entire world; and

5WHEREAS, Mr. Mandela became known for his leadership in the
6battle against apartheid in South Africa and other forms of
7racial segregation and discrimination; and

8WHEREAS, He was the leader of a movement that fought to
9ensure that all people in South Africa had equal rights and
10political representation; and

11WHEREAS, Mr. Mandela endured 27 years in prison, most of the
12time spent in solitary confinement, for opposing apartheid and
13injustice; and

14WHEREAS, Mr. Mandela inspired anti-apartheid activists across
15the world, including millions of people from all backgrounds in
16the United States; and

17WHEREAS, Upon his release from prison, he worked to establish
18a multiracial democracy in South Africa and successfully ran for

1president as the candidate of the African National Congress in
21994; and

3WHEREAS, Mr. Mandela oversaw the formation of the Government
4of National Unity in a successful attempt to ease racial
5tensions in South Africa; and

6WHEREAS, He was South Africa's first democratically-elected
7president in the nation's first free election where South
8Africans of all racial backgrounds were allowed to vote; and

9WHEREAS, Mr. Mandela received national and international
10honors, including the Nobel Prize, the United States
11Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Star of International
12Friendship, the Third World Prize and other international human
13rights awards; and

14WHEREAS, Mr. Mandela continued to advocate on behalf of
15peace, justice and economic equality throughout his long life;
16and

17WHEREAS, Mr. Mandela passed away on December 5, 2013; and

18WHEREAS, He is survived by 2 former wives, 6 children, 17
19grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; therefore be it

20RESOLVED, That the Senate honor the life of Nelson Rolihlahla
21Mandela.