SR0680 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The people of the State of Illinois were shocked to learn of the tragic incident at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015; and

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate were deeply saddened to learn of the 9 victims who were tragically slain during Bible study at Emanuel AME that day: South Carolina State Senator Clementa Pinckney, the senior pastor at the church, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, an assistant pastor, Tywanza Sanders, Ethel Lance, Susie Jackson, Cynthia Hurd, Myra Thompson, Daniel Simmons Sr., and DePayne Middleton Doctor; and

WHEREAS, Emanuel AME is the oldest African Methodist Episcopal church in the South and has one of the oldest and largest black congregations south of Baltimore; and

WHEREAS, Our hearts go out to the victims' families, Emanuel AME's entire congregation, and the communities across South Carolina that are deeply shaken by these events; and

WHEREAS, Our concern reaches further to the need for a greater national conversation about race relations, equality, and justice, because we believe that all lives matter; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that, as we mourn together with the entire State of Illinois for the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church and South Carolina and reflect on this unfathomable incident, we designate June 17 as a day of peace, remembrance, and unity and recognize that recovery and healing will be a church and community endeavor and that this is a time during which the entire country should come together to mend; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church as an expression of our heartfelt sympathy.