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SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The first amendment to the Constitution
3established the United States as a country committed to the
4principles of tolerance and religious freedom, and the 14th
5amendment to the Constitution established equal protection of
6the laws as the heart of justice in the United States; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Adherence to these principles is vital to the
8progress of the American people and the diverse communities and
9religious groups of the United States; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Whether from the political right, center, or left,
11bigotry, discrimination, oppression, and anti-Semitism
12threaten American democracy;
 
13    WHEREAS, Anti-Semitism is the centuries-old bigotry and
14form of racism faced by Jewish people simply because they are
15Jews; and
 
16    WHEREAS, The appalling rise of hate speech and
17anti-Semitism across the country calls on all who value
18diversity, respect, and civility as the heart of a functioning
19democracy to stand united against bigotry and hate of all
20kinds; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, There was a 37% increase in anti-Semitic incidents
2reported to the FBI between 2016-2017; and
 
3    WHEREAS, There were 1,564 religious-based incidents
4reported to the FBI in 2017, the second-highest level since
5statistics have been gathered; and
 
6    WHEREAS, On January 6, 2021, a gathering at the U.S.
7Capitol building inflicted atrocious vandalism and destruction
8at one of our nation's most sacred symbols of democracy, as
9well as caused the tragic death of a U.S. Capitol Police
10officer and the assault and injury of countless others; and
 
11    WHEREAS, This gathering drew hate groups from across the
12nation, many of whom brandished symbols of anti-Semitism as
13they invaded the building and threatened violence against
14lawmakers, staff, security guards, and other federal employees
15and against our very democracy; and
 
16    WHEREAS, The gathering has since spurred threats on state
17capitols, resulting in additional security measures here in the
18Illinois Capitol Complex; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The day before this horrific event, U.S.
20Congresswoman Mary Miller invoked Adolf Hitler's obscene
21methods for indoctrinating children by stating "whoever has

 

 

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1youth has the future," with racism and fascism as a guidepost
2to ignite hate and violence; and
 
3    WHEREAS, An elected official, whether a member of congress
4or a state assembly, should be held to a higher standard; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Mary Miller should realize the pain her remarks
6caused for members of the Jewish community for whom the horrors
7of 6 million murdered Jews, of which 1.5 million were children,
8experienced at the hands of Nazi Germany strike at the core of
9the holocaust and elicit one of the darkest moments of history;
10and
 
11    WHEREAS, The Illinois Jewish Legislative Caucus responded
12to this insensitive and disturbing remark by calling for Mary
13Miller's resignation in an online petition that has currently
14over 25,000 signatures; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Our legislative body must rise together against
16bigotry and refuse to accept hatred as our nation’s new normal;
17therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
19ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we condemn the hateful
20remarks of U.S. Congresswoman Mary Miller; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That we condemn anti-Semitic statements and acts
2as hateful expressions of intolerance; and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That we reject attempts to justify hate speech or
4violent attacks as an acceptable expression; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That we encourage all State, local, and federal
6officials to confront the reality of anti-Semitism,
7hate-speech, and other forms of bigotry; and be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That words matter, more so when they are spoken
9by a public official and when those words incite hate groups to
10action; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That we call on the U.S. House of Representatives
12to formally censure Congresswoman Miller for her remarks and
13insensitive, reprehensible, anti-Semitic rhetoric; and be it
14further
 
15    RESOLVED, That we stand in solidarity against hate,
16bigotry, and anti-Semitic rhetoric of all kinds; and be it
17further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19delivered to the U.S. Congress, the President of the United
20States, and the Vice-President of the United States on January

 

 

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121, 2021.