AL HJR226

Mrs. Recy Corbitt Taylor was born December 31, 1919, in Abbeville, Henry County, Alabama, to a family of sharecroppers.

On September 3, 1944, Mrs. Taylor was kidnapped and gang-raped by six white men; despite a confession from one assailant and identification of others, two grand juries declined to indict and no charges were filed.

Mrs. Taylor's refusal to remain silent about her rape provided an early organizational spark for the Civil Rights Movement and sparked among the first instances of nationwide African-American protest and activism.

The Alabama Legislature officially apologized in 2011 for the state's failure to prosecute her attackers, expressing profound regret for the role played by the government in failing to prosecute the crime.

Mrs. Taylor passed away December 28, 2017, at age 97, and the Legislature honors and commends her for her courage and dignity, offering this resolution to her family in admiration and appreciation.