Georgia's Needs To Apologizes for Role in Slavery

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 Georgia Needs To Apologizes for Role in Slavery: 

ATLANTA, Ga. (Mar.18, 2007) (NPE) - Virginia's lead in apologizing for its role in slavery. After pressure from Lawmakers and the leadership of Atlantaâs NAACP Chapter. Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) Georgia, with the Senate leader for approved an apology resolution, he expects a similar measure will be approved in the coming weeks. âWe are working over the weekend to meet with Georgia legislators.â

The idea of an apology has gotten a cool reception from some Georgia legislators, but state Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson said he has been meeting with black leaders to craft a strategy and believes something could pass before the legislative session concludes in mid-April. NAACP Spokesperson, said âthe resolution says government-sanctioned slavery is ranks as the most horrendous of all depredations of human rights and violations of our founding ideals in our stateâs history."

Rep. Tyrone Brooks, D-Atlanta, and state Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, said they expected the apology would be combined with a proposal that would permanently designate April Confederate History and Heritage Month in Georgia. Johnson declined to comment on specifics.

A committee passed the Confederate history bill this week, sending it to the full Senate. Some black leaders said they were offended by the move, given that some leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature indicated they didn't see the point of an official apology.

Johnson, a Republican, said he had been "arguing privately for awhile that Georgia ought to be at the lead and not forced into anything on the slavery issue."

"It's not that we personally, or our parents, participated in slavery, but the state of Georgia did," he said. Associated Press Writer Shannon McCaffrey contributed to this story

Georgia Apologizes will become the second state to express profound regret for role in states slavery.

Virginia's lead in apologizing for its role in slavery. After pressure from Lawmakers and the leadership of Atlantas NAACP Chapter. Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) Georgia, with the Senate leader for approved an apology resolution, he expects a similar measure will be approved in the coming weeks. We are working over the weekend to meet with Georgia legislators.