SR0225 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0225 LRB100 11698 MST 22665 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In the first two months of 2017, anti-Semitic events have been on the rise throughout the United States; these events are attempts to incite fear and disrupt daily life in peaceful communities; and

WHEREAS, This trend has been seen in Illinois when The Loop Synagogue in Chicago was vandalized in early February with broken windows and anti-Semitic graffiti that included swastikas; and

WHEREAS, The Chesed Shel Emeth Society cemetery near St. Louis, Missouri, which dates back to the late 1800s, was vandalized over the President's Day weekend with more than 150 tombstones damaged or toppled over, an example of a long-standing, anti-Semitic practice of desecrating cemeteries; and

WHEREAS, One week later, the Mount Carmel Jewish Cemetery in northeastern Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was vandalized with as many as 500 headstones knocked over or damaged; and

WHEREAS, A bomb threat was made to the Hyde Park Jewish Community Center, one of more than 50 phoned threats to these facilities in cities across the nation in recent weeks; and

WHEREAS, In spite of actions taken against groups based on race, religion, or ethnic origin in our country's history, America has always come together to denounce and overcome hate and stand united for tolerance and inclusion; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we condemn these acts of hate and fear, that we will respond to this latest wave of threats with love and assistance to victims of these acts, and that we will work tirelessly as individuals and a legislative body to encourage peace and acceptance in every community in our great State.