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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The year 2017 marked 100 years since the Bolshevik 
3Revolution in Russia which resulted
in the world's first 
4communist regime under Vladimir Lenin; this led to decades of 
5oppression
and violence under communist regimes throughout the 
6world; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Based on the philosophy of Karl Marx, communism 
8has proven incompatible with
the ideals of liberty, prosperity, 
9and dignity of human life and has given rise to such infamous

10totalitarian dictators as Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Ho Chi 
11Minh, Pol Pot, Nicolae Ceausescu,
the Castro brothers, and the 
12Kim dynasty; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, A National Day for the Victims of Communism was 
14declared November 7, 2017,
condemning communism as a political 
15philosophy "incompatible with liberty, prosperity, and the

16dignity of human life"; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Communist regimes worldwide have killed over 100 
18million people and
subjected countless others to the worst and 
19most widespread human rights abuses known to history,
with 
20victims representing many different ethnicities, creeds, and 
21backgrounds; and
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Communist regimes have, as a matter of government 
2policy, robbed their own
citizens of the rights of freedom of 
3religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of association
through 
4coercion, brutality, and fear; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Many victims of communism were persecuted as 
6political prisoners for speaking
out against these regimes, and 
7others were killed in genocidal state-sponsored purges; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, In addition to violating basic human rights, 
9communist regimes have suppressed
freedom of conscience, 
10cultural life, and self-determination movements in over 40 
11nations; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in 
13Washington, D.C. is a
nonprofit organization, authorized by 
14unanimous Act of the United States Congress, that educates

15people about the ideology, history, and legacy of communism and 
16honors the people who have
suffered and died under communist 
17regimes; therefore, be it
  
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
19HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
20we declare November 7, 2019 as Victims of Communism Memorial 
21Day in the State of Illinois; and be it further
  
 
 
 
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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
2presented to the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation as a 
3symbol of our respect and esteem.