ENROLLED ORIGINAL
A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
25-215
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
May 7, 2024
To recognize and honor the life and accomplishments of Mr. James Fisher Jr.
WHEREAS, James Fisher was born as the youngest son of 4 children to James Fisher and
Evelyn Conway-Fisher; of the District of Columbia;
WHEREAS, James Fisher, Jr. was a Veteran of the US Army;
WHEREAS, James Fisher, Jr. was retired with over 2 decades of employment with the
Federal Government (including the Office of Equal Opportunity, the Federal Housing and
Finance Board, and the Smithsonian Institution);
WHEREAS, James Fisher, Jr. was a father of 4 (his late daughter Dawn, his daughter
Tuesday, and his sons Kamaal and Keenan);
WHEREAS, James Fisher, Jr. was an eighth-generation direct descendant of Capt.
George Pointer, a formerly enslaved individual who played a significant role in building George
Washington’s canal on the Potomac River;
WHEREAS, James Fisher, Jr., along with his family, contributed significantly to the rich
tapestry of the District of Columbia's history and heritage, embodying resilience, strength, and
determination;
WHEREAS, James Fisher, Jr. tirelessly worked to raise awareness of the historical
injustices faced by his family and other Black families, particularly their forced displacement
from Broad Branch Road to facilitate the construction of a whites-only school in Chevy Chase,
DC in 1928;
WHEREAS, James Fisher, Jr. served as a board member of Historic Chevy Chase DC
(HCCDC) and passionately advocated for the relevance of history, engaging audiences ranging
from Lafayette Elementary School students to D.C. Council members;
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 ENROLLED ORIGINAL
WHEREAS, James Fisher, Jr. inspired several years-long projects about the life and
family of his ancestor Capt. George Pointer, including the 2021 publication of Between Freedom
and Equality, by authors Barbara Boyle Torrey and Clara “Tiggy” Myrick Green, narrating Capt.
Pointer’s amazing accomplishments and contributions;
WHEREAS, James Fisher, Jr.'s advocacy efforts led to the National Park Service
honoring Capt. George Pointer's legacy, and to the renaming of the Chevy Chase DC park to
Lafayette-Pointer Park, acknowledging the displacement of Pointer descendants and other Black
families from Broad Branch Road;
WHEREAS, James Fisher, Jr.'s testimony before ANC 3-4 G mobilized support for
acknowledging the historical injustices faced by Black Broad Branch families, culminating in the
renaming of the park and the installation of historic signs detailing the area's heritage;
WHEREAS, James Fisher, Jr. also testified before the D.C. Council on the renaming of
Lafayette-Pointer Park, the renaming of Wilson High School to Jackson-Reed High School, and
most recently, gave heartfelt and inspiring testimony before Councilmember McDuffie’s June
15, 2023 hearing to consider creation of a reparations task force;
WHEREAS, James Fisher, Jr.'s commitment to justice, his passion for storytelling, and
his unwavering dedication to preserving the legacy of his ancestors have left an indelible mark
on our community;
WHEREAS, James Fisher, Jr.'s life exemplified the courage of a lion, resilience, and a
steadfast belief in the power of knowledge to effect positive change; and
WHEREAS, Mr. James Fisher, Jr. passed away at his home in Colmar Manor, MD, on
January 22, 2024, at the age of 72 and leaves a legacy that will live on for generations to come.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “James Fisher, Jr. Celebration of Life Recognition Resolution of
2024”.
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia hereby honors and celebrates the life and
contributions of Mr. James Fisher, Jr., recognizing his enduring legacy as a champion of racial
justice, historical preservation, and community empowerment.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
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