Recognizing the desegregation efforts at Girard College in Philadelphia, and the leaders involved in African-American integration and civil rights expansion.

This resolution commemorates the pivotal desegregation efforts at Girard College in Philadelphia, a struggle that challenged discriminatory admissions policies rooted in Stephen Girard's 1848 will, which restricted enrollment to "poor white male orphans." Despite initial legal setbacks, including rejections by state courts, the fight for equality gained momentum following the *Brown v. Board of Education* decision, with early legal challenges led by Raymond Pace Alexander. A critical turning point occurred with the involvement of Cecil B. Moore , then president of the Philadelphia NAACP chapter, who spearheaded protests and advocated for the integration of Black students. These efforts, which included picketing and a speech by Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., ultimately led to a federal court ruling in 1968 that mandated the admission of African-American students to Girard College. The resolution formally recognizes the importance of these desegregation efforts and the Philadelphian leaders who championed local and national civil rights movements. It further aims to uplift African-American stories and history, emphasizing the continued need to protect diversity and the civil rights of students at colleges and universities across the Nation.