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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, On Monday, July 4, 2022, the City of Highland
3Park and thousands of its residents and neighbors gathered for
4its annual Fourth of July parade; and
 
5    WHEREAS, For generations, Highland Park has hosted this
6parade, one of the largest Fourth of July gatherings in the
7northern suburbs of Chicago; and
 
8    WHEREAS, At 10:14 a.m., tragedy struck as an alleged lone
9gunman opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle at the
10intersection of 2nd Street and Central Avenue in downtown
11Highland Park; and
 
12    WHEREAS, In less than one minute, the assailant shot 83
13bullets into the crowd, killing 7 and injuring dozens; and
 
14    WHEREAS, As residents ran from the gunfire, placed their
15bodies over their loved ones, and sought safety, first
16responders who had come to watch the parade put themselves in
17harm's way; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members
19and community volunteers rushed to the scene and bravely
20worked side by side with fire and police personnel and medical

 

 

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1professionals, helping to save lives through their quick
2action; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Law enforcement officers from Highland Park and
4hundreds of others throughout the State of Illinois and at all
5levels of government worked together to quickly secure
6downtown Highland Park and later apprehend the suspect; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Mayor Nancy Rotering admirably and strongly led
8the grieving Highland Park community in the minutes
9immediately after the shooting and in the weeks and months
10following the shooting, as the international community looked
11to her leadership; and
 
12    WHEREAS, City Manager Ghida Neukirch selflessly ran to the
13scene of the shooting to provide first aid to gunshot victims,
14going far above and beyond her duties and providing
15extraordinary care to the Highland Park community in the
16moments following the shooting; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Physicians, nurses, and other staff raced to
18Highland Park Hospital to assist the injured, some coming
19straight from the parade, doing incredible work under intense
20and difficult circumstances; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Hundreds of therapists, counselors, and social

 

 

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1workers have supported those experiencing trauma from what
2they witnessed during and after the shooting; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Gun violence remains a deeply concerning issue
4across the State, with numerous incidents highlighting the
5urgent need for effective prevention strategies; and
 
6    WHEREAS, It is essential to acknowledge recent incidents
7that have underscored the devastating impact of gun violence
8on individuals, families, and communities in Chicago; and
 
9    WHEREAS, From May 12 to May 14, 2023, there were eight
10fatalities and 20 others injured due to gun violence in the
11City of Chicago, leaving a profound impact on the affected
12community; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Another incident on May 6, 2023 in South Side
14Avalon Park resulted in the loss of Chicago police officer
15Aréanah Preston and inflicted immeasurable pain on the
16families and friends left to cope with the aftermath; and
 
17    WHEREAS, These incidents serve as heartbreaking reminders
18of the urgent need for comprehensive approaches to gun
19violence prevention, encompassing community-based solutions,
20law enforcement efforts, and policy reforms; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, It is crucial to recognize the collective grief
2and trauma experienced by those directly affected by these
3incidents, as well as the enduring impact on the broader
4Chicago community; therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
6ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF
7REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we declare July 2
8through July 8, 2023 as "Gun Violence Memorial and Prevention
9Week" in the State of Illinois; and be it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That we mourn the lives lost at the hands of
11gunfire in the City of Highland Park on July 4, 2022; and be it
12further
 
13    RESOLVED, That we remember all gun violence victims in the
14City of Chicago; and be it further
 
15    RESOLVED, That we especially remember the lives of
16Katherine Goldstein, Irina McCarthy, Kevin McCarthy, Stephen
17Straus, Jacquelyn Sundheim, Nicholas Toledo-Zaragoza, Eduardo
18Uvaldo, and Aréanah Preston; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That we remember all of those around the State
20of Illinois who have been lost to gun violence; and be it
21further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That we recognize the surviving family members
2who live with the trauma of their losses; and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That we honor the City of Highland Park, the
4City of Chicago and their law enforcement, first responders,
5and community leaders for their service to the people of
6Illinois; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That we urge leaders to continue to do
8everything in their power to ensure communities across the
9State do not experience the trauma of gun violence, so that
10these horrific tragedies shall not be in vain; and be it
11further
 
12    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
13delivered to the City of Highland Park and the City of Chicago.