HR0365 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0365 LRB102 18146 ECR 25554 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, With the ongoing police shootings and the post-George Floyd movement, it is imperative Congress makes federal grants available for President Biden's push for teaching critical race theory in schools and to law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, Critical race theory critiques how the social construction of race and institutionalized racism perpetuate a racial caste system that relegates people of color to the bottom tiers of society; it also recognizes that race intersects with other identities, including sexuality, gender identity, and others; critical race theory acknowledges that the legacy of slavery, segregation, and the imposition of second-class citizenship on Black Americans and other people of color continues to permeate the social fabric of this nation; and

WHEREAS, 70 years after Brown V. Board of Education, many children still attend segregated schools; there are continual funding disparities between majority Black and majority White schools; BIPOC, or Black, Indigenous, and people of color, students are disproportionately suspended and funneled into special education programs; and

WHEREAS, The majority of principals and teachers are White, even as their students are not; this means that many administrators are unable to fully perceive how racism operates without specific training; and

WHEREAS, Critical race theory calls upon principals and teachers to examine how history, politics, culture, and economics inform our understanding of race, racism, and other forms of marginalization; without this framework, principals and teachers may be committed to racial justice but be unable to translate their commitments into action; and

WHEREAS, By recognizing how race and racism shape our institutions, principals and teachers can find innovative ways to value the lived experiences of BIPOC families, prioritize the recruitment and retention of BIPOC faculty and staff, elevate the voices and experiential knowledge of BIPOC, adopt culturally responsive teaching practices and historically accurate U.S. history curriculum, and embrace the traditions of the communities in which they work; and

WHEREAS, As in the field of education, teaching critical race theory to law enforcement officers would have incredible benefits; many of our nation's systems and structures, including the legal system, were created when people of color were denied full participation in American society; many law enforcement officers do not understand how the justice system was shaped and continues to work against people of color; and

WHEREAS, Taking critical race theory courses helps law enforcement officers come face-to-face with the reality that, not too long ago, police officers played an active role in the enforcement of many of the discriminatory and racist laws of the time; and

WHEREAS, Many law enforcement departments do not reflect the diverse population they serve; with critical race theory, law enforcement officers can understand the history of BIPOC citizens and see how they were and are viewed by the people in the community they serve; and

WHEREAS, A new rule proposed by the U.S. Education Department states financial grants could be used to encourage schools to "incorporate teaching and learning practices that reflect the diversity, identities, histories, contributions, and experiences of all students"; and

WHEREAS, The use of federal grants to encourage the teaching of critical race theory to students and to law enforcement would be a critical step forward in the fight to dismantle racist structures and systems that are still present in our nation; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Congress of the United States to make available to schools and law enforcement agencies federal grants which support the teaching of critical race theory; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and all members of Congress.