Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
RES-2018-060 <br /> Revised Resolution 2018-10-16 <br /> A RESOLUTION REPEALING THE JUNE 15 1959 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> RESOLUTION DESIGNATING U.S. HIGHWAY 15 IN ORANGE COUNTY AS THE <br /> JEFFERSON DAVIS NATIONAL HIGHWAY <br /> WHEREAS, in the mid-twentieth century a private group began a movement to <br /> designate a coast to coast national highway as the Jefferson Davis Highway, Jefferson <br /> Davis Memorial Highway, or Jefferson Davis National Highway; and <br /> WHEREAS, this group approached local and state governments across the nation for <br /> support in the form of local roadway dedications; and <br /> WHEREAS, on June 1, 1959, pursuant to one such request, the Orange County Board <br /> of Commissioners voted to support a resolution designating that section of U.S. <br /> Highway 15 situated in Orange County as the "Jefferson Davis National Highway;" and <br /> WHEREAS, the federal government never designated or adopted a Jefferson Davis <br /> Highway, Jefferson Davis Memorial Highway, or Jefferson Davis National Highway; and <br /> WHEREAS, there existing no Jefferson Davis National Highway the 1959 resolution has <br /> no legal or practical effect and serves only to recognize Jefferson Davis; and <br /> WHEREAS, Jefferson Davis, though a United States Senator, was also the President of <br /> the Confederacy, a slave owner, and defender of the institution of slavery and later <br /> white supremacy; and <br /> WHEREAS, the institution of slavery and its legacy of white supremacy must not be <br /> glorified by the recognition of the individuals who defended them. <br /> NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of Orange <br /> County that the Board must act within the scope of its authority to dismantle the legacy <br /> of racism and inequality that continues to stain our community; and <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board hereby REPEALS the June 1, 1959 <br /> resolution designating the section of U.S. 15-501 in Orange County as the Jefferson <br /> Davis National Highway and will petition the North Carolina Department of <br /> Transportation to have the pedestal and plaque removed. <br /> This the 16th day of October 2018. <br /> Mark Dorosin, C it - <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />