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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, There has been a dramatic increase of incidents
3targeting minority populations all over the United States, with
4repeated rhetoric and harassment of Jews, Muslims, refugees,
5LGBTQ, and communities of color, creating a climate of
6pervasive fear and anxiety; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Over the last two months in Illinois and
8throughout the United States, there has been a dramatic
9increase in crimes of hate directed at Jews and Muslims,
10including acts of desecration; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The JCC Association of North America reports over
12160 Jewish Community Centers and Jewish day schools in the
13United States and Canada have received bomb threats in the last
14two months; and
 
15    WHEREAS, In January alone, over 48 Jewish Community Centers
16in 27 states received bomb threats and, on February 27, there
17were 31 incidents of bomb threats called into 23 JCCs and eight
18Jewish day schools in Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware,
19Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, New
20York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia,
21Washington State, and Calgary (Canada); and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Five waves of reported threats have been recorded,
2and in the last wave, 100 incidents were recorded at 81
3locations (inclusive of JCCs and Jewish day schools) in 33
4states and two Canadian provinces, including two Jewish
5Community Centers in Illinois, in Hyde Park and Lake Zurich;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, Two Jewish cemeteries, located in St. Louis,
8Missouri and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania were vandalized, with
9headstones overturned, crumbled and destroyed, and swastikas
10written on graves; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Jewish agencies were also being targeted, with two
12recorded bomb threats called into the Anti-Defamation League
13headquarters in the New York City, New York and San Francisco,
14California regional offices, both of which were evacuated; and
 
15    WHEREAS, The Loop Synagogue in downtown Chicago was the
16target of vandalism; the suspect, who has been arrested, broke
17a window and placed swastikas on the door of the synagogue; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Swastikas were found in the men's bathroom at the
19Northbrook Public Library, a frequent occurrence since
20November of 2016; and
 
21    WHEREAS, A swastika was found carved into a bench at the

 

 

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1Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, which welcomes
2and educates about 1,000 students and staff and members of the
3general public each day; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The FBI reported 5,818 hate crimes in 2015, up by
56% over the previous year, and with anti-Muslim hate crimes up
6by 67%; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois remains committed to
8religious freedom and the full protection of the United States
9and Illinois Constitutions for all people, and will fight
10vigorously to defend against any actions to the contrary; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois recognizes an assault on any
12one race, religion, or culture is an assault on all, and
13condemns racism, xenophobia, homophobia, Islamophobia,
14anti-Semitism, and all other forms of hate, and is committed to
15honor and protect all Illinois residents, regardless of race,
16ethnicity, religion, immigration status, and all other
17communities targeted by such hateful and disturbing acts; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The United States of America has a proud history
19of accepting its residents, regardless of ethnic origins,
20religious affiliation, or country of origin, and for fighting
21against intolerance, bigotry, evil, violence, and segregation;
22therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
2HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
3condemn these evil acts of fearmongering and desecration, that
4we will respond to these despicable actions with swift and
5decisive conviction and action, provide full support to the
6victims, and join in partnership with law enforcement and other
7State agencies to denounce further evil acts to combat any
8future threats based on hate to all in the great State of
9Illinois; and be it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
11delivered to Governor Bruce Rauner, Attorney General Lisa
12Madigan, the Director of the Illinois State Police, and all 102
13States' Attorneys in the State of Illinois.