HR0991 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0991 LRB100 21511 MST 38498 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Tennessee House of Representatives failed not once but twice to adopt Tennessee House Joint Resolution 583 to condemn white nationalism and neo-Nazism; and

WHEREAS, The Tennessee House of Representatives failed to summon sufficient moral courage and basic decency to place itself on the record against such a sinister and pernicious ideology infecting the body politic of the United States; and

WHEREAS, The Tennessee House of Representatives has been cowed by the growing influence of white nationalists and neo-Nazis; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois House of Representatives has no fear of white nationalists and neo-Nazis and abounds in moral courage and basic decency; therefore be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Illinois House of Representatives wishes to adopt the following text of the Tennessee House of Representatives in its entirety, as if it were addressed to the State of Illinois, as follows:

"WHEREAS, recent tragic events have proven that white nationalism and neo-Nazism remain very real threats to social and racial progress; and

WHEREAS, throughout the course of our nation's history, white nationalism has promoted intimidation and violent repression of individuals solely on the basis of their race, ethnicity, religion, and immigration status; and

WHEREAS, today, white nationalism has attempted to reinvent itself, self-identifying as the "Alt-Right," yet their present-day rhetoric and terrorism conjure painful memories of our nation's past; and

WHEREAS, while free speech and assembly are bedrock values for Americans, white nationalist and neo-Nazi groups promote agendas that are in irreconcilable conflict with our nation's foundational principles of liberty and justice for all; and

WHEREAS, white nationalism and neo-Nazism are continuing to grow as menaces to societal order that seek to reignite social animosities, reverse improvements in race relations, divide the nation, and foment hatred, classism, anti-Semitism, and ethnic eradication; and

WHEREAS, the white nationalist and neo-Nazi message of racial and social intolerance has led to senseless acts of violence that continue to terrorize members of ethnic, racial, and religious minority communities; now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED TENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE CONCURRING, that we strongly denounce and oppose the totalitarian impulses, violent terrorism, xenophobic biases, and bigoted ideologies that are promoted by white nationalists and neo-Nazis.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge law enforcement to recognize these white nationalist and neo-Nazi groups as terrorist organizations and to pursue the criminal elements of these domestic terrorist organizations in the same manner and with the same fervor used to protect the United States from other manifestations of terrorism.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that our State, the great State of Tennessee, and its people will not tolerate discrimination or hate in any form or manifestation and that we stand united with resolve to promote and ensure equality for all Tennesseans.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that appropriate copies of this resolution be prepared and transmitted to the President of the United States, all members of the United States Senate, all members of the United States House of Representatives, the Governor of the State of Tennessee, and all members of the Tennessee General Assembly."; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois House of Representatives adopts the resolution of the Tennessee House of Representatives as if it were its own; and be it further

RESOLVED, That appropriate copies of this Illinois House of Representatives resolution be prepared and delivered to the President of the United States, all members of the United States Senate, all members of the United States House of Representatives, the Governor of the State of Illinois, all members of the Illinois General Assembly, the Governor of the State of Tennessee, and all members of the Tennessee General Assembly.