HR0694

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, State Representative Monique Davis and the 
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members of the Illinois House of Representatives join with the 
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entire nation in mourning the loss of civil rights leader, Rosa 
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Parks; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her bus seat to a 
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white man in 1955 triggered a 381-day boycott of the bus system 
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in Montgomery, Alabama, organized by the Rev. Martin Luther 
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King, Jr., sparked the modern civil rights movement, changed 
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the course of history, and earned her the title, "mother of the 
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civil rights movement"; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Rosa Parks' simple act of defiance exposed the 
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indecency of Jim Crow laws in the South that had been in place 
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since the post-Civil War Reconstruction era and that required 
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separation of the races in buses, restaurants, and public 
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accommodations throughout the South and the pervasive, legally 
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sanctioned racism that prevented African-Americans from 
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obtaining jobs and housing in the North; the civil rights 
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movement spawned by her actions ultimately resulted in the 
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passage of comprehensive federal civil rights legislation that 
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prohibits racial discrimination; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Rosa Parks continued throughout her life to work 
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for the civil rights of all Americans; after taking her public 
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stand for civil rights, Rosa Parks endured threats and 
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harassment and had trouble finding work in Alabama; she moved 
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with her husband, Raymond Parks, to Detroit, Michigan, where 
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she continued her struggle to advance the cause of civil 
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rights; she worked as an aide to U.S. Representative John 
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Conyers for 23 years and became a revered figure in Detroit, 
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where a street and a middle school bear her name;  in 1995, she 
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was among the civil rights leaders who addressed the Million 
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Man March; and

 
 


 






HR0694
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LRB094 14917 MKM 49976 r




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    WHEREAS, Upon her retirement from the office of Rep. 
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Conyers, she devoted her time and efforts to the Rosa and 
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Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development, which she founded 
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to develop leadership among Detroit's young people and initiate 
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them into the struggle for civil rights; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Rosa Parks' inspiring story has been the subject 
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of many published works, including, "Rosa Parks: My Story", 
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"Quiet Strength: The Faith, the Hope and the Heart of a Woman 
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Who Changed a Nation", and a collection of letters entitled, 
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"Dear Mrs. Parks: A Dialogue with Today's Youth";  and 
 
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    WHEREAS, In 1996 Rosa Parks was awarded the Presidential 
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Medal of Freedom, awarded to civilians that have made 
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outstanding contributions to American life; in 1999,  she was 
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awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest 
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civilian honor; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The passing of Rosa Parks does not extinguish her 
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legacy of peace, justice, equality, love, and fulfillment; she 
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encouraged us all to live with a vision of a better tomorrow 
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and with courage and inspiration to achieve the dream of 
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freedom and peace;  therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we express our profound sorrow at the death of Rosa Parks, that 
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we join with the rest of the nation and with freedom-loving 
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people everywhere in mourning the loss of this civil rights 
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champion, and that to her bereaved family and friends we extend 
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our heartfelt sympathy; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Rosa Parks.