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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The people of the State of Illinois were shocked 
3to learn of the tragic incident at the Emanuel African 
4Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina on 
5June 17, 2015; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate were deeply 
7saddened to learn of the 9 victims who were tragically slain 
8during Bible study at Emanuel AME that day: South Carolina 
9State Senator Clementa Pinckney, the senior pastor at the 
10church, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, an assistant pastor, 
11Tywanza Sanders, Ethel Lance, Susie Jackson, Cynthia Hurd, Myra 
12Thompson, Daniel Simmons Sr., and DePayne Middleton Doctor; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Emanuel AME is the oldest African Methodist 
14Episcopal church in the South and has one of the oldest and 
15largest black congregations south of Baltimore; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Our hearts go out to the victims' families, 
17Emanuel AME's entire congregation, and the communities across 
18South Carolina that are deeply shaken by these events; and

  
 
19    WHEREAS, Our concern reaches further to the need for a 
20greater national conversation about race relations, equality, 
21and justice, because we believe that all lives matter; 
 
 
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1therefore, be it
  
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL 
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that, as we mourn together 
4with the entire State of Illinois for the Emanuel African 
5Methodist Episcopal Church and South Carolina and reflect on 
6this unfathomable incident, we designate June 17 as a day of 
7peace, remembrance, and unity and recognize that recovery and 
8healing will be a church and community endeavor and that this 
9is a time during which the entire country should come together 
10to mend; and be it further
  
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
12presented to the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church as 
13an expression of our heartfelt sympathy.