GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 552*

Short Title:  1898 Wilmington Historic Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Wright; Adams, Blue, Bonner, Boyd-McIntyre, Braswell, Cunningham, Earle, Fitch, Hardaway, H. Hunter, Kinney, McAllister, Michaux, Oldham, Wainwright, and Womble.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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March 19, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL RESOURCES FOR A MEMORIAL TO COMMEMORATE THE HISTORIC EVENTS OF NOVEMBER OF 1898 IN THE CITY OF WILMINGTON.
Whereas, during the late 1800s, the City of Wilmington was North Carolina's largest city with African-Americans making up two-thirds of the city's population; and
Whereas, many of the African-American citizens owned valuable land and successful businesses and held high offices in city and county government, comprising a thriving black middle and upper class; and
Whereas, after the elections of 1898, a group of racist local residents instigated a three-day period of civil disorder and violence against African-American citizens and public officials, resulting in the loss of lives, the destruction of businesses, and the expulsion of duly elected officials and business owners from the city; and
Whereas, 1998 will mark the one hundredth anniversary of the tragic and lawless events that occurred in November of 1898 in the City of Wilmington; and
Whereas, a diverse group of interested citizens have formed the "1898 Centennial Commission" to observe and memorialize these events through numerous civic activities; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and History, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year to establish a permanent memorial to commemorate the historical significance of the 1898 riots in the City of Wilmington.
Section 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1997.