Maryland Legislature Approves Resolution Apologizing for State's Role in Slavery

On Monday, the Maryland House of Delegates joined the Maryland Senate in approving Senate Joint Resolution 6, a resolution in which "the State of Maryland expresses profound regret for the role that Maryland played in instituting and maintaining slavery and for the discrimination that was slavery’s legacy."  With this vote the state of Maryland became the second U.S. state to approve a resolution apologizing for slavery. 

On February 24, 2007 Virginia became the first state to approve a resolution apologizing for slavery.  The Virginia resolution also acknowledged the exploitation of Native Americans.  An excerpt from the resolution reads as follows:

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby acknowledge with profound regret the involuntary servitude of Africans and the exploitation of Native Americans, and call for reconciliation among all Virginians; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the settlement at Jamestown, the General Assembly call upon the people of the Commonwealth to express acknowledgment and thanksgiving for the contributions of Native Americans and African Americans to the Commonwealth and this nation, and to the propagation of the ideals of liberty, justice, and democracy...

Learn more on the Maryland resolution (Senate Joint Resolution 6):

• Text of Resolution (PDF)
• Legislative Background
• Maryland Becomes Second U.S. State to Apologize for Slavery (AP via FindLaw Legal News)

Learn more on the Virginia resolution (Senate Joint Resolution 332; also see House Joint Resolution 728):

• Text of Resolution
• Legislative Background
• Virginia Apologizes for Role in Slavery (AP via Washingtonpost.com).