Honoring and Recognizing The Palmer Foundation for all the great work they have done to bring recognition to African American stories and fight racism in America.

WHEREAS, The Palmer Foundation (The Foundation) was created by Professor Walter D. Palmer, in 1955, to collect information on African History and American Racism; and

WHEREAS, The Foundation created the Black People’s University of Philadelphia Freedom School (BPUP) to develop strategies to fight against racial injustice in America which included desegregating Band Stand and Paul Whiteman Dances and Mummer’s Blackface; and

WHEREAS, Over the last sixty years BPUP founded, organized, sponsored, and supported projects for leadership training in education, community law, business and politics, as well as fighting against racial segregation; and

WHEREAS, BPUP protested against racial discrimination in Philadelphia schools, government, colleges, hospitals. public transportation, news outlets, US Post Office, Fire and Police, banks, stadium, Out of Chinatown, Penn, Temple and Drexel expansion; and

WHEREAS, BPUP founded the original Philadelphia Freedom Theater, First Black Independent Political Party, “COPE 46,” Walter D. Palmer Leadership Partners Charter School, Black People’s Unity Movement, City Wide Black Community Council, Society for Preservation for African History, National Association of Black Social Workers and Philadelphia Citywide Council and Human Rights; and

WHEREAS, BPUP organized the November 1967 student strike, Black Power, Black Panther, antiwar African Diaspora conferences, as well as Temple and Penn Black Studies, Jesse Jackson for President, anti-gang activities, Penn Hospital and CHOP desegregation, Civil Rights, Afro-Centric Free Mandela Movements; and

WHEREAS, BPUB cosponsored The Black United Fund, Odunde, African American Museum, Congressional Black Caucus, Black Teachers’ Roundtable, Pennsylvania’s Black Political Caucus, Temple and Penn Community Mental Health programs, African American and Puerto Rican Day Parades, Black Oak Park and Cobbs Creek Civic Associations, North Philadelphia Model Cities and Public Health Centers, SNCC dynamite case, Black Panthers, Move 78, Move 85, Community Legal Services, police abuse, school choice, housing rights, and Charter Schools, and the first WDAS Unity Day; and

WHEREAS, Over the last sixty years, thousands of Philadelphians have benefitted from the work of The Palmer Foundation and Black People’s University of Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Does hereby honor and recognize The Palmer Foundation for all the great work they have done to bring recognition to African American stories and fight racism in America.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Walter D. Palmer as a sincere expression of the Council of the City of Philadelphia’s gratitude, admiration and recognition.

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