SR1609 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1609 LRB101 23488 MST 74906 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The first amendment to the Constitution established the United States as a country committed to the principles of tolerance and religious freedom, and the 14th amendment to the Constitution established equal protection of the laws as the heart of justice in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Adherence to these principles is vital to the progress of the American people and the diverse communities and religious groups of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Whether from the political right, center, or left, bigotry, discrimination, oppression, and anti-Semitism threaten American democracy;

WHEREAS, Anti-Semitism is the centuries-old bigotry and form of racism faced by Jewish people simply because they are Jews; and

WHEREAS, The appalling rise of hate speech and anti-Semitism across the country calls on all who value diversity, respect, and civility as the heart of a functioning democracy to stand united against bigotry and hate of all kinds; and

WHEREAS, There was a 37% increase in anti-Semitic incidents reported to the FBI between 2016-2017; and

WHEREAS, There were 1,564 religious-based incidents reported to the FBI in 2017, the second-highest level since statistics have been gathered; and

WHEREAS, On January 6, 2021, a gathering at the U.S. Capitol building inflicted atrocious vandalism and destruction at one of our nation's most sacred symbols of democracy, as well as caused the tragic death of a U.S. Capitol Police officer and the assault and injury of countless others; and

WHEREAS, This gathering drew hate groups from across the nation, many of whom brandished symbols of anti-Semitism as they invaded the building and threatened violence against lawmakers, staff, security guards, and other federal employees and against our very democracy; and

WHEREAS, The gathering has since spurred threats on state capitols, resulting in additional security measures here in the Illinois Capitol Complex; and

WHEREAS, The day before this horrific event, U.S. Congresswoman Mary Miller invoked Adolf Hitler's obscene methods for indoctrinating children by stating "whoever has youth has the future," with racism and fascism as a guidepost to ignite hate and violence; and

WHEREAS, An elected official, whether a member of congress or a state assembly, should be held to a higher standard; and

WHEREAS, Mary Miller should realize the pain her remarks caused for members of the Jewish community for whom the horrors of 6 million murdered Jews, of which 1.5 million were children, experienced at the hands of Nazi Germany strike at the core of the holocaust and elicit one of the darkest moments of history; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Jewish Legislative Caucus responded to this insensitive and disturbing remark by calling for Mary Miller's resignation in an online petition that has currently over 25,000 signatures; and

WHEREAS, Our legislative body must rise together against bigotry and refuse to accept hatred as our nation’s new normal; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we condemn the hateful remarks of U.S. Congresswoman Mary Miller; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we condemn anti-Semitic statements and acts as hateful expressions of intolerance; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we reject attempts to justify hate speech or violent attacks as an acceptable expression; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage all State, local, and federal officials to confront the reality of anti-Semitism, hate-speech, and other forms of bigotry; and be it further

RESOLVED, That words matter, more so when they are spoken by a public official and when those words incite hate groups to action; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we call on the U.S. House of Representatives to formally censure Congresswoman Miller for her remarks and insensitive, reprehensible, anti-Semitic rhetoric; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we stand in solidarity against hate, bigotry, and anti-Semitic rhetoric of all kinds; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the U.S. Congress, the President of the United States, and the Vice-President of the United States on January 21, 2021.