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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The people of the State of Illinois were shocked
3to learn of the tragic incident at the Emanuel African
4Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina on
5June 17, 2015; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate were deeply
7saddened to learn of the 9 victims who were tragically slain
8during Bible study at Emanuel AME that day: South Carolina
9State Senator Clementa Pinckney, the senior pastor at the
10church, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, an assistant pastor,
11Tywanza Sanders, Ethel Lance, Susie Jackson, Cynthia Hurd, Myra
12Thompson, Daniel Simmons Sr., and DePayne Middleton Doctor; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Events connected with this tragedy have raised
14questions about the so-called "Battle Flag of the Confederacy"
15as a suitable element in the design of official state symbols;
16regardless of the reasons why this flag was previously chosen
17to be portrayed, it is now obvious that this flag is offensive
18and should no longer be depicted on official state symbols; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The official flag of the State of Mississippi, by
20Mississippi statute, incorporates a depiction of the "Battle
21Flag of the Confederacy" into its design; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, The members of this body suggest that the
2Mississippi Legislature should adopt an official flag that
3honors the heritage of all Mississippians, including the over
437% of Mississippians that are African-American; therefore, be
5it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we call upon the
8Mississippi Legislature to take statutory action to remove any
9depiction of the "Battle Flag of the Confederacy" from the
10design of the flag of the State of Mississippi; and be it
11further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13delivered to Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, Tate Reeves,
14President of the Mississippi Senate, and Philip Gunn, Speaker
15of the Mississippi House of Representatives.