SB1500sam001 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Dan McConchie

Filed: 4/21/2021

10200SB1500sam001 LRB102 11280 RJF 25675 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 1500

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 1500 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 1. Findings. The General Assembly finds and declares the following:

(1) The year 2021 marks 104 years since the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, which resulted in the world's first communist regime under Vladimir Lenin, and led to decades of oppression and violence under communist regimes throughout the world.

(2) Based on the philosophy of Karl Marx, communism has proven incompatible with the ideals of liberty, prosperity, and dignity of human life and has given rise to such infamous totalitarian dictators as Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Ho Chi Minh, Pol Pot, Nicolae Ceausescu, the Castro brothers, and the Kim dynasty.

(3) Communist regimes worldwide have killed over 100,000,000 people and subjected countless others to the worst and most widespread human rights abuses known to history, with victims representing many different ethnicities, creeds, and backgrounds.

(4) Communist regimes have, as a matter of government policy, robbed their own citizens of the rights of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of association through coercion, brutality, and fear.

(5) Many victims of communism were persecuted as political prisoners for speaking out against these regimes, and others were killed in genocidal state-sponsored purges.

(6) In addition to violating basic human rights, communist regimes have suppressed freedom of conscience, cultural life, and self-determination movements in over 40 nations.

(7) A National Day for the Victims of Communism was declared November 7, 2017, condemning communism as a political philosophy incompatible with liberty, prosperity, and the dignity of human life.

(8) The State of Illinois further recognizes the necessity of educating people about the ideology, history, and legacy of communism, and honoring and remembering the people who have suffered and died under communist regimes.

Section 5. The State Commemorative Dates Act is amended by adding Section 200 as follows:

(5 ILCS 490/200 new)

Sec. 200. Victims of Communism Memorial Day. November 7th of each year is designated as Victims of Communism Memorial Day to be observed throughout the State as a day to educate people about the ideology, history, and legacy of communism, and to honor and remember the people who have suffered and died under communist regimes.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.".