WHEREAS, Cecil B. Moore was born in Dry Fork Hollow, West Virginia to a prominent physician and school teacher. He was a fourth generation Black professional; and
WHEREAS, Cecil B. Moore attended Bluefield State College, West Virginia College and in 1953 graduated from Temple University College; and
WHEREAS, On April 6, 1946, he married Theresa Lee, a high school biology teacher and daughter of a prominent dentist. They had three daughters; and
WHEREAS, Cecil B. Moore was employed as an Atlantic Life Insurance agent in Georgia, which honed his skills for judicial settlements in later years. In the 1950’s, in Philadelphia, he was a liquor salesman, who formed friendships with those who later became his supporters. He demonstrated against additional bars in the neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, With Reverend Leon Sullivan he founded the “Committee Against Juvenile Delinquency and It’s Causes,”; and
WHEREAS, Cecil B. Moore joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942, training at Montford Point, the “Negro Boot Camp,” at segregated Camp Lejuene, North Carolina. He served as 1st Sergeant of the 19th Depot, the first Black Marines to engage in actual combat during World War II, and also fought for the rights and justice for his fellow soldiers, by alerting the Black press of their plight; and
WHEREAS, Cecil B. Moore served loyally for 9 years, earning the highest rank an African American could attain, Sergeant Major. In 1965, as a founding member, the Montford Point Marine Association was formed. These brave men were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their services to our country in 2011. This effort was spearheaded by Congresswoman Corrine Brown of Florida; and
WHEREAS, Attorney Cecil B. Moore said, “I was determined that what rights I didn’t have I was going to take, using every weapon in the arsenal of democracy.” He felt every person had the right to equal justice and a superior defense, whether you could pay or not. His success as a winning defense attorney is unparalleled across this country. He handled cases in civil rights, landlord tenants, and employment discrimination; and
WHEREAS, Cecil B. Moore lead the Philadelphia Branch of the NAACP from an elite, non confrontational organization to a formidable force of “direct action” of the people. NAACP membership grew from 6,000 to 32,000 his first year; and
WHEREAS, Cecil B. Moore had a formidable group of men and women from all walks of life, who worked tirelessly to achieve equal rights, education employment and justice; and
WHEREAS, He registered 70,000 new voters, relentless fought against police brutality, discrimination in the building trades, railroad, post office, Greyhound, Trail Ways, and the airline; and
WHEREAS, His longest lived demonstration began May 1, 1965, outside Girard College, which at the time excluded African American children from admission, lasting 7 months and 17 days. Girard College was desegregated in 1968; and
WHEREAS, Councilman of the 5th District, Cecil B. Moore continued to fight for the right and services, of which, his North Philadelphia constituency were entitled under the City of Philadelphia and the Constitution of the United States; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That April 2, 2015 be recognized as Cecil B. Moore Day in the City of Philadelphia.
FURTHER RESOLOVED
,
That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be delivered to the Cecil B. Moore Freedom Fighters as evidence of the sincere appreciation of this legislative body.
End