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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly are 
3proud to recognize those who distinguish themselves in society 
4and strive to protect the rights of those around them; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela spent over 50 years of his life 
6fighting to improve the lives of his countrymen, end the 
7apartheid regime in South Africa, and advance the causes of 
8democracy and human rights; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison in 
101964 as a political prisoner; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Despite his imprisonment, Nelson Mandela 
12continued to meet with political leaders and work towards the 
13improvement of life for all South Africans; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Upon his release from prison in 1990 Nelson 
15Mandela worked to reduce violence in South Africa and negotiate 
16a peaceful resolution to racial conflicts and the formation of 
17a new government including democratic elections; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, In 1993 Nelson Mandela was presented the Liberty 
19Medal by President of the United States William Clinton; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, In 1993 Nelson Mandela joined Frederik Willem de 
2Klerk in receiving the Nobel Peace Prize "for their work for 
3the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for 
4laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa"; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, On April 27, 1994 Nelson Mandela voted for the 
6first time in his life in South Africa's democratic elections; 
7and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, On May 10, 1994 Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as 
9South Africa's first democratically elected president; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, After his inauguration, Nelson Mandela worked to 
11unite the South African nation and formed the Truth and 
12Reconciliation Commission to investigate crimes committed by 
13both sides during apartheid; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Under Nelson Mandela's administration health 
15care, education, electricity, and water access were extended to 
16millions of South Africans that previously lacked access to 
17these services; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela worked to promote peaceful 
19resolutions to international disputes; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, After retiring from political office in 1999 
 
 
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1Nelson Mandela continued his philanthropic works with the 
2Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, Nelson Mandela Foundation, and 
3the Mandela Rhodes Foundation; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Nelson Mandela passed away on December 5, 2013 at 
5the age of 95; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, It is fitting we honor the life and legacy of 
7Nelson Mandela by naming the portion of  Cicero Avenue beginning 
8at West Roosevelt Road in Chicago, Illinois and ending at West 
9Grand Avenue in Chicago, Illinois in his honor; therefore, be 
10it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
12NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
13SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the portion of 
14Cicero Avenue beginning at West Roosevelt Road in Chicago, 
15Illinois and ending at West Grand Avenue in Chicago, Illinois 
16as "Mandela Road"; and be it further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation 
18is requested to erect at the intersections of Cicero Avenue 
19with West Roosevelt Road, West Lexington Street, West Harrison 
20Street, West Jackson Boulevard, West Madison Street, West 
21Washington Boulevard, West Maypole Avenue, West Lake Street, 
22West Ferdinand Street, West Ohio Street, Chicago Avenue, West 
 
 
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1Augusta Boulevard, West Division Street, West Hirsch Street, 
2West North Avenue, and West Grand Avenue, consistent with State 
3and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving 
4notice of the name of Mandela Road on or before July 18, 2015; 
5and be it further
  
 
6    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
7presented to the Secretary of the United States Department of 
8Transportation, the Secretary of the Illinois Department of 
9Transportation, and the family of Nelson Mandela.