Res. No. 628 Title Resolution calling upon United States Senator Trent Lott to resign from the office of Senate Majority Leader. Body By Council Members Monserrate, Foster, DeBlasio, Barron, Boyland, Clarke, Gioia, Jackson, Jennings, Liu, Martinez, Nelson, Perkins, Sanders, Seabrook, Serrano, Vann, Weprin, Yassky, Gerson and Quinn; also Council Members Koppell and Brewer Whereas, In referring to Senator Strom Thurmond's bid for the White House in 1948, Senator Trent Lott stated: "I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years;" and Whereas, In 1948, Thurmond ran as a self-described "Dixiecrat" on a segregationist platform, and vowed during his campaign that "all the laws of Washington and the bayonets of the Army cannot force the Negro into our homes, our schools, our churches...;" and Whereas, Senator Lott has made similar comments about Thurmond's candidacy in the past, thereby demonstrating that this was not a gaffe but part of a pattern of divisive comments that imply that racial integration was bad for our country; and Whereas, Any suggestion that segregation was acceptable, much less desirable, is offensive to all New Yorkers that believe in the guarantee of equal rights and equal protection under the law for every citizen, and the fundamental dignity of all human beings; and Whereas, Insofar as he has betrayed the faith and good will of the American people by making comments so contrary to our nation's values, Senator Lott has clearly demonstrated that he will diminish the honor and dignity of the office of Senate Majority Leader; now therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon United States Senator Trent Lott to resign from the office of Senate Majority Leader.