House Joint Resolution 7020, sponsored by Representative Jones, seeks to honor the civil rights martyrs whose sacrifices were instrumental in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The resolution highlights the brutal murders of several activists, including Jimmie Lee Jackson, Reverend James Reeb, Viola Liuzzo, George Lee, Lamar Smith, Samuel Younge, Jr., and the trio of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. These individuals faced violence and death while advocating for Black voter registration and civil rights, with their tragic fates galvanizing national support for federal intervention and ultimately leading to the enactment of the Voting Rights Act on August 6, 1965.

The resolution emphasizes that the Voting Rights Act was achieved through the "literal blood" of those who fought for civil rights, marking it as a significant milestone in the Civil Rights Movement. By honoring these martyrs, the resolution acknowledges the profound impact of their sacrifices on the struggle for voting rights and the ongoing fight for equality. The House of Representatives and the Senate of Tennessee are called to recognize and remember these individuals, ensuring their legacy is preserved in the history of civil rights advocacy.