093_SJ0040

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 1                       SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, Quality education is essential  to  an  informed
 3    citizenry, the foundation of our democratic society; and

 4        WHEREAS,  Access  to  quality education is the gateway to
 5    opportunity, our nation's promise to all; and

 6        WHEREAS,  Quality  education  provided  in  a   universal
 7    setting enriches the learning experience; and

 8        WHEREAS,  Quality  education for every citizen regardless
 9    of   race,   religion,   ethnic   background,   or   economic
10    circumstance  is  a  fundamental  goal  under  our  form   of
11    government; and

12        WHEREAS,  On  May  17,  1954, in a historic and unanimous
13    decision, the United States Supreme Court, in Brown v.  Board
14    of   Education,  347  U.S.  483  (1954),  ruled  that  public
15    education is subject to the equal  protection  provisions  of
16    the United States Constitution; and

17        WHEREAS,  The  Court  based  its  decision as well on the
18    premise that to separate children according to their race was
19    unfair, diminishing their hopes and their futures; and

20        WHEREAS,  That  decision  of  May  17,   1954   was   the
21    culmination  of  58  years  of  effort  by  a  vast number of
22    persons, organizations, and institutions and of  the  largely
23    unknown  and  unheralded efforts of countless early Americans
24    and their descendants aimed at achieving equal justice  under
25    the law; and

26        WHEREAS,  The  Court's pronouncement in Brown v. Board of
27    Education  validated  those  remarkable  actions  and   their
28    underlying  premise  that  change  in our country is achieved
29    though peaceful, lawful means; and

30        WHEREAS, That participants from all walks of life  joined
 
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 1    in  pursuit  of this goal emphasizes that Americans, standing
 2    together, can effect great and positive change under the law;
 3    and

 4        WHEREAS, That decision has had a  profound,  significant,
 5    and  beneficial  impact  on all aspects of life in the United
 6    States; and

 7        WHEREAS, The significant  contributions  of  citizens  of
 8    this  State  were  essential  to the ultimate success of that
 9    58-year effort; and

10        WHEREAS, Those  contributions  made  through  lawful  and
11    peaceful  means  stand  as  worthy  models  of the benefit of
12    public education and good citizenship; and

13        WHEREAS, The benefits to this State are everywhere to  be
14    seen  in  the  contributions by Illinois citizens not only in
15    education but in government, the arts,  business,  and  other
16    civic undertakings; and

17        WHEREAS,  The  50th  Anniversary of the Brown v. Board of
18    Education decision affords an opportunity for the citizens of
19    this State to celebrate and commemorate our  own  success  in
20    providing  quality  public education and recognize the fruits
21    of that success; and

22        WHEREAS, May 17, 2004 is the  50th  anniversary  of  this
23    historic event; therefore, be it

24        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  SENATE  OF  THE  NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
25    ASSEMBLY  OF  THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS,   THE   HOUSE   OF
26    REPRESENTATIVES   CONCURRING   HEREIN,   that   the  Illinois
27    Commission on the 50th  Anniversary  of  Brown  v.  Board  of
28    Education is created; and be it further

29        RESOLVED,  That  the  members  of  the  Commission  shall
30    include  the  President  of the Senate or his or her designee
 
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 1    and the Speaker of the House of Representatives or his or her
 2    designee, each serving as co-chairpersons,  the  Governor  or
 3    his  or  her designee, one vice-chairperson appointed by each
 4    of the co-chairpersons, and 25 appointed  members,  with  the
 5    Governor,  the  President  of  the Senate, the Speaker of the
 6    House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the  Senate,
 7    and  the  Minority  Leader  of  the  House of Representatives
 8    appointing 5 members each; and be it further

 9        RESOLVED,  That  the  appointed  members  shall  be  from
10    diverse backgrounds so as to reflect the diverse citizenry of
11    Illinois working together for a common democratic cause,  and
12    that  their  individual  qualifications shall include varying
13    educational, professional, and civic experiences  that  bring
14    different   perspectives  and  cooperative  outlooks  to  the
15    Commission; and be it further

16        RESOLVED, That the purpose of the Commission  is  (i)  to
17    further  a  statewide  appreciation  for  the  advancement of
18    democratic principles through our system of law  and  justice
19    using  the  unanimous 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v.
20    Board of Education as a touchstone and (ii) to inspire all of
21    our citizens, regardless of age, race,  ethnicity,  religion,
22    or  economic status, to appreciate the value of education and
23    public  service  as  a  means  to  further  the  objects   of
24    democracy; and be it further

25        RESOLVED,  That  the  Commission shall have the following
26    stated objectives: (i)  to  identify  human  and  documentary
27    resources,  generally  available,  for  use  by  educational,
28    civic,  social, and other organizations and institutions such
29    that the Commission may effectively share in  the  spread  of
30    democratic  principles  as  part  of the Commission's ongoing
31    activities in 2004; (ii) to  encourage  direct  participation
32    through  essays,  creative  arts, lectures, original research
33    and writing, community  projects,  and  other  activities  to
 
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 1    foster  personal  commitment  to  democracy; (iii) to provide
 2    adoptable program models for local use statewide; and (iv) to
 3    mark the anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education  with  an
 4    appropriate ceremony; and be it further

 5        RESOLVED,  That  the  Commission  shall, while working in
 6    coordination with and with the assistance  of  Chicago  State
 7    University   and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale's
 8    Public  Policy   Institute,   broaden   outreach   by   using
 9    established  channels, including publicly supported media and
10    electronic,  computer-assisted  communication  systems,   and
11    elicit  voluntary  assistance from educational, legal, civic,
12    and professional organizations and institutions  as  well  as
13    notable individuals; and be it further

14        RESOLVED,   That   no  later  than  June  30,  2005,  the
15    Commission shall report  to  the  General  Assembly  and  the
16    Governor  on its activities and accomplishments, and that the
17    Commission shall  be  dissolved  after  the  filing  of  this
18    report; and be it further

19        RESOLVED,  That  a  suitable  copy  of this resolution be
20    delivered to the Governor of the State of Illinois.