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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Sandra Annette "Sandy" Bland, who passed 
4away on July 13, 2015; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Sandy Bland was born in Chicago on February 7, 
61987 to Willie and Geneva Bland; her family later moved to 
7Villa Park; she attended Jackson Middle School and graduated 
8from Willowbrook High School in 2005, where she was involved in 
9basketball, volleyball, track, color guard, and cheerleading; 
10she attended Prairie View A&M University on a band scholarship 
11as a skilled trombonist and was a member of The Marching Storm; 
12in the spring of 2007, she joined Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, 
13Inc., where she served as chapter President; she graduated in 
142009 with a bachelor degree in agricultural food sciences; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, Sandy Bland grew up in the DuPage AME Church, 
16participating in a number of youth ministries, including the 
17Girl Scouts, Sisters in Praise, the YPD, and Voices of 
18Tomorrow; most recently, she worked with the Women's Day 
19Committee; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, In January of 2015, Sandy Bland introduced the 
21hashtag #SandySpeaks  to use as a platform to address societal 
22injustices that she felt impacted her community personally; she 
 
 
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1had a genuine interest in lending a voice to the next 
2generation; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Sandy Bland was preceded in death by her maternal 
4grandparents, Sharon Needham and Emmett Reed, Sr.; her paternal 
5grandparents, Verdine and Melvin Bland, Sr.; and her father, 
6Willie Bland; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Sandy Bland is survived by her mother, Geneva 
8Reed-Veal (Rick); her sisters, Shante Needham (Mickiya, 
9Princess, Tremaine, and Denzel), Sharon Cooper (Jonathan and 
10Natalie), Shavon Bland (Zakira, Laiana, and Egypt), and Sierra 
11Cole (Janiyah); and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, and 
12friends; therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL 
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
15Sandra Annette "Sandy" Bland, and extend our sincere 
16condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved 
17her; and be it further
  
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
19presented to  the family of  Sandy Bland as an expression of our 
20deepest sympathy.