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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives have learned, with deep sadness, of the deaths
4on June 17, 2015 of the Rev. Senator Clementa C. Pinckney,
5Cynthia Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lance, DePayne Middleton
6Doctor, Tywanza Sanders, Daniel L. Simmons, Sr., Sharonda
7Singleton, and Myra Thompson, the 9 people who were murdered
8while engaged in a session of Christian Bible studies at the
9Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston,
10South Carolina; and
 
11    WHEREAS, These 9 community and church leaders are deeply
12mourned by their families and friends; as a result of this
13tragedy, their skills at work and life have become familiar to
14their South Carolina neighbors and the people of the United
15States; and
 
16    WHEREAS, As State legislators, we are especially aware of
17the hard work and statesmanship of the late Rev. Senator
18Clementa C. Pinckney, as he was a leader for his state on
19lawmaking efforts concerning issues, such as body cameras for
20police officers, which we know are exceptionally complex and
21demand courageous, careful handling; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Events connected with this tragedy have raised

 

 

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1questions about the so-called "Battle Flag of the Confederacy"
2as a suitable element in public displays of honor; although
3this flag was raised for reasons familiar to everyone, many
4feel that this flag has become offensive and should no longer
5be a symbol on state property; and
 
6    WHEREAS, A slightly different version of the "Battle Flag"
7currently flies, by South Carolina statute, on the grounds of
8the South Carolina State House in Columbia, South Carolina, as
9an element of a monument honoring fallen South Carolina
10soldiers; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The members of this body affirm the right and duty
12of the people of South Carolina to pay tribute to the heritage
13of their state, including the heritage of the American Civil
14War; and
 
15    WHEREAS, At times like this we are reminded of the words of
16Abraham Lincoln, who said that it is the work of all of us
17"with malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness
18in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on
19to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's
20wounds..."; and
 
21    WHEREAS, The members of this body suggest that the correct
22flag for the people of South Carolina to fly when honoring

 

 

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1their heritage is the flag of the United States of America;
2South Carolina is one of the 13 original states and there is a
3stripe and a star on this flag for them, and 13 stripes and 50
4stars to stand for one united people; therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
6NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
7call upon the South Carolina General Assembly to take statutory
8action to remove any examples of the "Battle Flag of the
9Confederacy" from the grounds of the South Carolina State
10House, including the Confederate Monument; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12delivered to South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Henry
13McMaster, President of the South Carolina Senate, and Jay
14Lucas, Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives.