A RESOLUTION recognizing February 21, 2026, as Historic St. Paul A.M.E. Church National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Day in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Summary
SR101 is a Senate resolution recognizing February 21, 2026, as Historic St. Paul A.M.E. Church National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Day in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The resolution honors Historic St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lexington, which the National Park Service has designated as a site on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The measure recounts the church’s historical role as an Underground Railroad station, including its concealed upper room and stairwell, efforts to evade tracking dogs, and its connection to freedom seekers and abolitionist figures such as Lewis Garrard Clarke.
The resolution also highlights the church’s broader historical significance, including Clarke’s 1892 speech there, his 1897 funeral at the church, and his influence on antislavery thought and literature. It notes that the church remains one of Kentucky’s few surviving Underground Railroad-era sites and that a community commemoration service was planned for February 21, 2026, to celebrate the designation. The Senate further resolves to adjourn in honor of the church’s national recognition and to transmit the resolution to Senator Reginald Thomas.
Impact
SR101 does not amend or create statutory law; it is a ceremonial resolution that formally recognizes a historic site and commemorative day. Its practical effect is to place the Senate’s official endorsement behind the National Park Service designation and to elevate public awareness of Historic St. Paul A.M.E. Church’s role in Kentucky’s Underground Railroad history. The resolution affects no regulatory or fiscal provisions and primarily impacts the Senate’s official records, the church, and related historical and cultural preservation efforts.
Sentiment
The sentiment around SR101 appears strongly supportive and celebratory. The resolution was adopted by voice vote, indicating broad, noncontroversial approval. The text itself is laudatory throughout, emphasizing faith, resistance, freedom, and the importance of preserving African American and abolitionist history in Kentucky.
Contention
No notable contention is evident in the bill text, voting history, or available committee materials. Because SR101 is a commemorative resolution honoring a historic church and its Underground Railroad legacy, it appears to have been treated as a consensus measure rather than a policy dispute. Any discussion would likely center on historical recognition and public commemoration rather than competing legal or budgetary interests.