HJ0074 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is right and appropriate to celebrate a diversity of cultures and heritages; this celebration serves as a reminder that despite our differing backgrounds, everyone in Illinois is bound by a common hope for a better and more inclusive future for our children; and

WHEREAS, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are among the fastest growing ethnic groups in Illinois; Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up more than 5% of the population of the State; the community grew by over 40% between 2000 and 2010; and

WHEREAS, The Asian American and Pacific Islander community has a long and integral history in the United States; in recognition and celebration of that history, the United States Congress established Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week in 1978; that week was extended to the full month of May in 1990; and

WHEREAS, May is an appropriate month for the observation of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage, since May 7, 1843 marked the arrival date of the first Japanese immigrant to the United States; May 10, 1869 is the date that America was united coast to coast by the Transcontinental Railroad with the placement of the "Golden Spike"; the railroad was made possible by the herculean efforts of the mostly Chinese immigrant workers; May 6, 1882 marks the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act, which shaped the course of Asian immigration for almost a century to come; and

WHEREAS, The Asian American community played a heroic role in the Second World War; the 442nd Infantry regiment, comprised mostly of Japanese Americans, fought for the United States while their families at home were facing harsh discrimination and internment; the 442nd became one of the most decorated units for its size, earning almost 10,000 Purple Hearts; and

WHEREAS, Despite the contributions of Asian Americans and immigrants, the Asian American community has faced challenges and discrimination in the United States; many of the Chinese laborers were treated extremely poorly during the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, and none of the Chinese Americans were allowed in the famous picture of the "Golden Spike"; Asian immigrants faced xenophobia and outright violence throughout periods of the 19th and 20th centuries; and

WHEREAS, Despite this inequity, brilliant leaders from different Asian American communities have contributed to the history of our country; Dalip Singh Saund was the first Asian American elected to Congress; Fred T. Korematsu was a champion of civil liberties and of the Japanese Americans interned during the Second World War; Larry Dulay Itliong was a hero for the labor movement; Grace Lee Boggs and Patsy Mink were both a transformative force for Title IX; whether as soldiers, laborers, business owners, advocates, or community leaders, those in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community continue to rise to the challenges they face and serve as a force for good in the State of Illinois and the United States; and

WHEREAS, Illinoisans and Americans of all walks of life are encouraged to learn about the deep history of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans and their contributions to our State and country; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we declare May of 2019 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the State of Illinois in honor of the people in these communities in the State and the nation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we welcome everyone to Asian American Action Day on May 15, 2019, where community organizations and people of all creeds across Illinois advocate in the Capitol for legislation that is more inclusive of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans.