{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-introduces-resolution-honoring-the-life-of-dick-gregory", "Norton Introduces Resolution Honoring the Life of Dick Gregory", "2017-10-05", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a congressional resolution recognizing the life and legacy of Dick Gregory and honoring his contributions to the civil rights movement, American comedy, and the District of Columbia\u2019s struggle for home rule and voting rights.\u00a0 Norton spoke at Gregory\u2019s funeral service, and will present his family with a copy of the resolution.\n\u201cDick Gregory, a satirist who made everyone laugh out loud with his comedy, committed his life to being a champion for human and civil rights, leaving an indelible mark on this nation,\u201d Norton said.\u00a0 \u201cAfter fighting for the rights of African Americans during the civil rights movement, he came to the District of Columbia, his adopted hometown, and helped lead the fight for home rule and statehood.\u201d\nBelow is the full text of Norton\u2019s resolution.\nRESOLUTION\nRecognizing the life and legacy of Richard (Dick) Gregory, and honoring his contributions to the civil rights movement and to American comedy.\nWhereas Dick Gregory was born on October 12, 1932, in St. Louis, Missouri, and passed away on August 19, 2017, in the District of Columbia at the age of 84;\nWhereas Dick Gregory was an early civil rights pioneer, participating in sit-ins and getting arrested numerous times throughout the South for the defeat of segregation and for equal rights;\nWhereas Dick Gregory was a passionate champion for voting rights and home rule for the residents of the District of Columbia and in the 1960s was in the forefront of the struggle that culminated in home rule for the District of Columbia;\nWhereas Dick Gregory moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1956 to begin his comedy career after having served in the United States Army;\nWhereas in 1959, Dick Gregory married Lillian Smith, with whom he had 11 children;\nWhereas, besides civil rights, Dick Gregory was an activist in numerous causes over the course of his life, including the Vietnam War, the Equal Rights Amendment, police brutality, South African apartheid, nuclear power, prison reform, feminism, drug abuse and Native American rights;\nWhereas Dick Gregory authored a dozen books; and\nWhereas Dick Gregory became one of the first African American comedians to enjoy crossover appeal to blacks and whites alike, using his talent to point up the absurdity of racism and discrimination: Now, therefore, be it\nResolved, That the House of Representatives honors the life and legacy of Richard (Dick) Gregory and acknowledges his contributions to civil rights, to multiple other causes for freedom and equality, and to American comedy.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-introduces-resolution-honoring-the-life-of-dick-gregory"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2389072217047215, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}