Freedom Calendar 03/24/07 - 03/31/07

March 24, 1902, Birth of Thomas Dewey (R-NY), who as Governor introduced nation’s first statewide civil rights law; Republican presidential candidate in 1944 and 1948.

March 25, 1864, Death of U.S. Rep. Owen Lovejoy (R-IL), abolitionist and co-founder of Republican Party in Illinois.

March 26, 1910, President Taft appoints Republican William Lewis as first African-American U.S. Asst. Attorney General.

Easter Sunday, March 27, 1856, First meeting of Republican National Committee in Washington, DC to oppose Democrats’ pro-slavery policies.

March 28, 1870, Republican Jonathan Wright of South Carolina becomes first African-American state Supreme Court Justice.

March 29, 1885, Birth of U.S. Rep. Frances Payne Bolton (R-OH), first woman to serve as U.S. Delegate to United Nations General Assembly.

March 30, 1868, Republicans begin impeachment trial of Democrat President Andrew Johnson, who declared: 'This is a country for white men, and by God, as long as I am President, it shall be a government of white men'.

March 31, 1806, Birth of U.S. Senator John Hale (R-NH), early leader of Republicans’ anti-slavery movement in Congress.

"Discrimination against the negro race in this country is unjust, is unworthy of a high-minded people whose example should have a salutary influence in the world.”

Rep. Joseph Rainey (R-SC), the first African-American in the U.S. House of Representatives (1870-79)

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