Freedom Calendar 8/23/08 - 8/30/08

August 23, 1882, At Texas Republican Party convention, over half of delegates are African-Americans.

August 24, 1985, Death of Hawaiian and Chinese-American Republican James Kealoha, first Lt. Governor of Hawaii after statehood.

August 25, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln authorizes enlistment of African-American soldiers in U.S. Army.

August 26, 1820, Birth of Republican anti-slavery activist James Harlan, U.S. Senator from Iowa, whose statue is in U.S. Capitol.

August 27, 1809, Birth of Hannibal Hamlin (R-ME), first Republican elected Vice President of the United States; instrumental in passage of anti-slavery Wilmot Proviso.

August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King delivers “I Have a Dream” speech in front of memorial dedicated to Republican President Abraham Lincoln.

August 29, 1989, U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) becomes first Hispanic woman and first Cuban-American in Congress.

August 30, 1890, Republican President Benjamin Harrison signs legislation by U.S. Senator Justin Morrill (R-VT) making African-Americans eligible for land-grant colleges in the South.

"For 150 years, Republicans have worked to secure the civil rights of African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian-Americans, and every individual from every background and walk of life. We believe that every person contributes to America's rich cultural heritage. Americans of all races and creeds share the Republican commitment to creating job opportunities for all, giving children equal access to a quality education, and strengthening families and faith. This is the Republican agenda; this is the American agenda"

U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) Speaker of the House

Technorati Tags: President Bush and Freedom Calendar or Dwight Eisenhower and Republicans or African-Americans and Ronald Reagan or Ronald Reagan and Civil Rights or Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass or 40 acres and a mule or Martin Luther King and Voting Rights Act of 1965 or Dred Scott