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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 30, 2024
2:30 p.m. ET

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Mo Banks
mo.banks@andrewgoodman.org
(201) 502-6144

The Andrew Goodman Foundation, Three Slain Civil Rights Workers Honored By New York Assembly Resolution No. 2084

New York Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright’s resolution will commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the tragic murders of civil rights workers Andrew Goodman, James Earl Chaney, and Michael Schwerner

On May 3, 2024, New York Senator Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright introduced New York Assembly Resolution No. 2084, a historic gesture to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the tragic murders of civil rights activists Andrew Goodman, James Earl Chaney, and Michael Schwerner. This resolution, which also names The Andrew Goodman Foundation (AGF) and Andrew’s brother David Goodman, marks a significant moment of remembrance and reflection in the fight for civil rights and social justice. The New York Assembly adopted the resolution on May 6, 2024. 

In 1964, the Ku Klux Klan murdered Andrew Goodman, James Earl Chaney, and Michael Schwerner while working to register Black American voters during Mississippi’s Freedom Summer. Their deaths were a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, catalyzing the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Sixty years later, New York Senate Resolution 2197 and New York Assembly Resolution 2084 are testaments to their enduring legacy.

Executive Director of The Andrew Goodman Foundation, Rashawn Davis, remarked, “This resolution by the New York Assembly is a powerful acknowledgment of the ongoing struggle for civil and voting rights in America. It is a reminder that the work started by Andrew, James, and Michael is far from finished. This commemoration fuels our commitment to uphold their legacy and continue the fight for democracy and justice for all.”

In 1966, Robert and Carolyn Goodman established AGF to carry on the spirit and purpose of their son, Andrew, by making young voices and votes a powerful force in democracy. The resolution also recognizes AGF and David Goodman, who continued the work that his brother started by leading the organization alongside his wife Sylvia Goodman from 2007 to 2020 and bolstering its efforts as a board member today. In recognition of David’s remarkable contributions, Queens College President Frank H. Wu presented President’s Medals, the college’s highest administrative honor, to David Goodman, along with Julia Chaney-Moss and Stephen A. Schwerner at the college’s 100th Commencement on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

AGF Board Member David Goodman, brother of Andrew Goodman, expressed his gratitude, stating, “Sixty years ago, my brother Andrew, alongside James Earl Chaney and Michael Schwerner, was murdered in the pursuit of justice and equality. This resolution is not just a commemoration of their lives; it is a beacon of hope and a call to action. Their legacy lives on, inspiring new generations to carry forward the torch of justice.”

The Andrew Goodman Foundation extends its gratitude to the New York Assembly for adopting this resolution and invites the community to join in remembering and honoring the legacies of James Earl Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner on June 21, 2024. 

About The Andrew Goodman Foundation

The Andrew Goodman Foundation’s mission is to make young voices and votes a powerful force in democracy by training the next generation of leaders, engaging young voters, and challenging restrictive voter suppression laws. The organization is named after Andrew Goodman, a Freedom Summer volunteer and champion of equality and voting rights who was murdered, alongside James Earl Chaney and Michael Schwerner, by the KKK in 1964 while registering Black Americans to vote in Mississippi. To learn more, visit www.andrewgoodman.org.

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