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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Mahatma Karamchand Gandhi was a world-renowned
3civil rights and spiritual leader, who experienced injustices
4early in life and learned to embrace the principles of
5non-violence as a vehicle for social and political change; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Mahatma Gandhi was influenced by religious
7teachings in Hinduism, Jainism, and Christianity in the
8development of his philosophy; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Mahatma Gandhi led the Indian people to
10independence from British rule in August 1947 through
11non-violent means, staging massive peaceful demonstrations
12against poverty while supporting women's rights and religious
13tolerance; and
 
14    WHEREAS, For his efforts, Mahatma Gandhi was given the
15title of Mahatma, or "Great Soul" and was often called Bapu in
16India, which means "father"; India acknowledges him as the
17"Father of the Nation"; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Mahatma Gandhi's legacy has inspired hundreds of
19millions of people around the world to pursue non-violence as a
20means to achieve freedom and equality, including Dr. Martin
21Luther King Jr.'s movement to end racial injustice in the

 

 

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1United States and Nelson Mandela's fight to end apartheid in
2South Africa; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Few people have had as significant and as positive
4an impact on the world and freedom movements than Mohandas
5Gandhi; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Over 2,000,000 people attended Mahatma Gandhi's
7funeral in 1948, and his memory and teachings still persist
8today; and
 
9    WHEREAS, October 2, Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, was
10declared as International Day of Non-Violence by the United
11Nations to "disseminate the message of non-violence, including
12through education and public awareness" and reaffirm "the
13universal relevance of the principle of non-violence" and
14desire "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, and
15understanding through non-violence"; and
 
16    WHEREAS, People around the world commemorate the
17International Day of Non-Violence by participating in
18volunteer projects as a way to give back to their communities;
19therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
21ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare Mahatma

 

 

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1Gandhi's birthday, October 2, 2019, as the "State Day of Peace
2to Non-Violence" to coincide with the International Day of
3Non-Violence; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That we encourage the people of Illinois to
5observe the State Day of Peace to Non-Violence with appropriate
6ceremonies, programs, and activities.