WHEREAS, The Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, and this day is celebrated annually as a tribute to American ideals of liberty and freedom; and
WHEREAS, July 5th marks the anniversary of Frederick Douglass’ historic 1852 address, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”, his powerful call to confront hypocrisy and the chasm between America’s founding ideals and its lived reality of chattel slavery; and
WHEREAS, Throughout American history, courageous individuals have sacrificed their lives in the pursuit of equality, justice and human rights for all people; and
WHEREAS, In 1871, only one year after ratification of the 15th Amendment to the US Constitution granting African American men the right to vote, courageous Black men in Philadelphia headed to the polls to cast their votes in the exercise of political freedom; and
WHEREAS, A campaign of organized violence was unleashed to suppress the Black vote, resulting in the death of five men and injury to countless other Philadelphians; and
WHEREAS, The names of those slain were Octavius Catto, Levi Bolden, Jacob Gordon, Moses Wright, and Isaac Chase; and
WHEREAS, It is fitting to honor and remember those slain for the cause of exercising their freedom to vote; and
WHEREAS, It is fitting and proper that we secure this memory and recommit ourselves to the principles for which they made the ultimate sacrifice; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes and honors July 5, 2026 as “Martyrs Day in Philadelphia” and encourages residents, community groups, institutions, educators and businesses to commemorate this day of remembrance through reflection, peaceful social action including voter registration and a renewed commitment to social justice and human rights for all people.
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