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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The United Nations has designated the year 2011 as 
3the International Year for People of African Descent to 
4strengthen national actions and regional and international 
5cooperation to ensure that people of African descent fully 
6enjoy economic, cultural, social, civil, political, and human 
7rights, as well as advance their integration into these aspects 
8of society and promote a greater knowledge of and respect for 
9their diverse heritage and culture; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, The African Diaspora, during which four million 
11Africans were forced to migrate to the Western Hemisphere as 
12part of the slave trade, created permanent ties between the 
13people of Africa and the people of America; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, People of African descent worldwide have endured 
15the challenges of segregation and inequality and still face 
16discrimination to this day; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, Overcoming these obstacles, people of African 
18descent have made profound contributions to science and 
19technology, education, independence and civil rights 
20movements, agriculture, language, cuisine, culture, and the 
21arts; and

  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, The current economic crisis disproportionately 
2threatens access to employment, affordable food and housing, 
3health care, education, and criminal and environmental justice 
4for people of African descent and other minority communities; 
5therefore, be it
  
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL 
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the United 
8Nations Declaration of 2011 as the International Year for 
9People of African Descent; and be it further
  
 
10    RESOLVED, That we celebrate the unique contributions of 
11people of African descent to the culture of the State of 
12Illinois; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That we state our intent to continue our work of 
14improving access to justice, human rights, political 
15institutions, employment, housing, health care, civil rights, 
16education, and environmental justice for people of African 
17descent in the State of Illinois.