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| | SR0582 | | LRB100 13041 MST 27410 r |
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1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
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2 | | WHEREAS, The United States was built upon the premise and |
3 | | promise of religious tolerance, a principle enshrined in the |
4 | | First Amendment guarantee of free exercise of religion; and
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5 | | WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has historically welcomed |
6 | | newcomers from all nations and of all faith traditions, and has |
7 | | historically benefited from the diversity these newcomers |
8 | | bring; and
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9 | | WHEREAS, The most recent federal election campaign |
10 | | featured rhetoric and discussion of policy proposals hostile to |
11 | | certain nationality and religious groups, including |
12 | | specifically a possible registry of Muslim Americans; and |
13 | | WHEREAS, Reported attacks on Muslim, Arab, and South Asian |
14 | | Americans and other incidents of discrimination, including in |
15 | | housing, education, and employment, have increased sharply |
16 | | during the past two years and in particular since the 2016 |
17 | | elections; and |
18 | | WHEREAS, Muslim youths in particular face barriers to |
19 | | safely expressing their religion in school, with young Muslim |
20 | | women being bullied for wearing the hijab or niqab; and |
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| | SR0582 | - 2 - | LRB100 13041 MST 27410 r |
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1 | | WHEREAS, Muslim, Arab, and South Asian Americans have |
2 | | endured discriminatory policies such as the National Security |
3 | | Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), which targeted men |
4 | | from 24 predominantly Muslim countries in the immediate |
5 | | aftermath of the 9-11 attacks; and
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6 | | WHEREAS, The current federal administration has issued two |
7 | | executive orders attempting to impose restrictions on |
8 | | individuals from seven (later six) Muslim majority countries |
9 | | seeking to enter the United States, restrictions that federal |
10 | | courts have enjoined in part due to their discriminatory |
11 | | intent; and
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12 | | WHEREAS, Initiatives such as NSEERS, the travel |
13 | | restrictions, and a potential Muslim registry recall past |
14 | | discriminatory initiatives such as the internment of 120,000 |
15 | | Americans of Japanese descent during World War II, for which |
16 | | our nation has formally apologized; and
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17 | | WHEREAS, Our State should continue to welcome all |
18 | | nationality and religious groups and should stand in opposition |
19 | | to any attempts to discriminate against Arab, South Asian, and |
20 | | Muslim Americans or any other group based on national origin or |
21 | | religion; therefore, be it
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22 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL |
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| | SR0582 | - 3 - | LRB100 13041 MST 27410 r |
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1 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that it is the sense of this |
2 | | body that no State or local government agency or official |
3 | | should expend any time, facilities, equipment, information, or |
4 | | other resources of the agency or official to facilitate the |
5 | | creation, publication, or maintenance of or any participation |
6 | | in any federal program with the purpose of registering or |
7 | | maintaining a database of individuals present in the United |
8 | | States based on their race, color, ancestry, national origin, |
9 | | or religion; and be it further
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10 | | RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be |
11 | | delivered to the President and Vice-President of the United |
12 | | States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States |
13 | | Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leaders of the United States |
14 | | House of Representatives, and all members of the Illinois |
15 | | Congressional Delegation.
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