Freedom Calendar 07/12/08 - 07/19/08

July 12, 1974, Republican National Chairman George H. W. Bush establishes Republican National Hispanic Assembly.

July 13, 1868, Louisiana Republican Oscar Dunn, a former slave, becomes nation’s first African-American Lt. Governor.

July 14, 1884, Republicans criticize Democratic Party’s nomination of racist U.S. Senator Thomas Hendricks (D-IN) for vice president; he had voted against the 13th Amendment banning slavery.

July 15, 1980, NAACP President Benjamin Hooks addresses Republican National Convention; previously appointed by President Richard Nixon in 1972 as first African-American member of U.S. Civil Rights Commission

July 16, 1866, Republican Congress overrides Democrat President Andrew Johnson’s veto of Freedman's Bureau Act, which protected former slaves from “black codes” denying their rights.

July 17, 1862, Over unanimous Democrat opposition, Republican Congress passes Confiscation Act stating that slaves of the Confederacy 'shall be forever free'.

July 18, 1906, Birth of Asian-American U.S. Senator Samuel Hayakawa (R-CA).

July 19, 1867, Republican Congress overrides Democrat President Andrew Johnson’s veto of legislation protecting voting rights of African-Americans.

"And I think that this is a very good opportunity, indeed, to say a word of thanks -- thank you for the contribution, for the support that we have enjoyed throughout from the people of the United States of America, from the American government, to help us along the way towards German unification. I think we owe you a big debt of gratitude for being able to finally live within one country in peace and freedom; one country -- Germany. (Applause.)"

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Friday, July 13, 2006

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