Rep. Jim Durkin

Filed: 4/22/2021

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2020

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2020 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 1. Findings. The General Assembly finds and
5declares the following:
6        (1) The year 2021 marks 104 years since the Bolshevik
7    Revolution in Russia, which resulted in the world's first
8    communist regime under Vladimir Lenin, and led to decades
9    of oppression and violence under communist regimes
10    throughout the world.
11        (2) Based on the philosophy of Karl Marx, communism
12    has proven incompatible with the ideals of liberty,
13    prosperity, and dignity of human life and has given rise
14    to such infamous totalitarian dictators as Joseph Stalin,
15    Mao Zedong, Ho Chi Minh, Pol Pot, Nicolae Ceausescu, the
16    Castro brothers, and the Kim dynasty.
17        (3) Communist regimes worldwide have killed over

 

 

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1    100,000,000 people and subjected countless others to the
2    worst and most widespread human rights abuses known to
3    history, with victims representing many different
4    ethnicities, creeds, and backgrounds.
5        (4) Communist regimes have, as a matter of government
6    policy, robbed their own citizens of the rights of freedom
7    of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of association
8    through coercion, brutality, and fear.
9        (5) Many victims of communism were persecuted as
10    political prisoners for speaking out against these
11    regimes, and others were killed in genocidal
12    state-sponsored purges.
13        (6) In addition to violating basic human rights,
14    communist regimes have suppressed freedom of conscience,
15    cultural life, and self-determination movements in over 40
16    nations.
17        (7) A National Day for the Victims of Communism was
18    declared November 7, 2017, condemning communism as a
19    political philosophy incompatible with liberty,
20    prosperity, and the dignity of human life.
21        (8) The State of Illinois further recognizes the
22    necessity of educating people about the ideology, history,
23    and legacy of communism, and honoring and remembering the
24    people who have suffered and died under communist regimes.
 
25    Section 5. The State Commemorative Dates Act is amended by

 

 

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1adding Section 200 as follows:
 
2    (5 ILCS 490/200 new)
3    Sec. 200. Victims of Communism Memorial Day. November 7th
4of each year is designated as Victims of Communism Memorial
5Day to be observed throughout the State as a day to educate
6people about the ideology, history, and legacy of communism,
7and to honor and remember the people who have suffered and died
8under communist regimes.
 
9    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
10becoming law.".