SR0758 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0758 LRB104 21678 ECR 37237 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, For more than 400 years, millions of people were stolen from Africa, put in shackles, and shipped to the New World to toil as slaves in cotton fields and on sugar and coffee plantations under scorching heat and the crack of a whip; and

WHEREAS, Denied their basic humanity and even their own names, the enslaved were forced to endure generations of exploitation with repercussions that reverberate today, including persistent anti-Black racism and discrimination; and

WHEREAS, The countries from which enslaved Africans were taken also suffered the loss of entire generations who could have potentially helped these countries grow and prosper; and

WHEREAS, Many consider the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity and violation against human rights in history; and

WHEREAS, Addressing historical wrongs affecting Africans and people of the diaspora in a manner that promotes justice, human rights, dignity, and healing should be a priority for our nation, even though the United States does not currently recognize a legal right to reparations for historical wrongs that were not illegal under international law at the time they occurred; and

WHEREAS, Confronting slavery's lasting legacies of inequality and racism is necessary to help remove the persistent barriers that prevent so many people of African descent from realizing their potential; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that countries around the world drive action to eradicate systemic racism, ensure reparatory justice, and accelerate inclusive development, resulting in equal access to education, health, employment, housing, and a safe environment; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the United States Congress to formally apologize, prioritize restitution of cultural items, and make reparations for the legacies of slavery and colonialism in acknowledgment of the importance of human rights, equality, and the inherent worth of every person; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the U.S. Senate Majority Leader, the U.S. Senate Minority Leader, the U.S. Speaker of the House, the U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader, and all members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.