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HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The Jewish people have long been subjected to
3prejudice, hate, and violence, including the recent attack by
4the terrorist group Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulting in the
5deaths of more than 1,200 Israelis as well as widespread
6sexual violence and kidnappings; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The nation of Israel responded to the unprovoked
8attack by launching an anti-terrorist operation in the
9territory of Gaza, the place from which Hamas orchestrated the
10attack, a decision that has been criticized due to the
11unfortunate humanitarian consequences of the operation; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Students at colleges and universities around the
13country, including the University of Illinois, Northern
14Illinois University, Illinois State University, the University
15of Chicago, Northwestern University, and others, have been
16participating in protests supporting the terrorists that
17attacked innocent civilians on October 7, 2023, often chanting
18slogans calling for the genocide of the Jewish people; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Protesters at Columbia University recently
20stormed Hamilton Hall, an academic building on campus named
21after Alexander Hamilton, and occupied it for almost 24 hours
22before police in riot gear were called on campus and arrested

 

 

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1110 of the protesters who had barricaded themselves in the
2building; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Police breached and dismantled a pro-Palestine
4encampment on the campus of the University of California at
5Los Angeles after protesters physically attacked counter
6demonstrators supporting Israel; and
 
7    WHEREAS, School administrators have, in many cases,
8appeased the student protesters, tolerating their actions as
9they block access to facilities, harass their fellow students,
10and otherwise disrupt the learning environment on campus; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Many affected schools have been forced to hold
12classes virtually due to the widespread violence, and many
13schools have chosen to delay or otherwise alter plans for the
14upcoming commencement ceremonies celebrating the class of
152024's graduation; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Northwestern University in Evanston has rewarded
17the agitators by offering free tuition to protesters of
18Palestinian descent and allowing them to continue their
19disruptive behavior through June 1; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Since the protests began, over 1,900 protestors
21have been arrested nationwide for charges, including

 

 

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1trespassing, vandalism, disorderly conduct, assault, and
2battery, among others; however, this amounts to only a small
3portion of the people nationwide breaking the law in
4solidarity with terrorists; therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
6HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
7we condemn the violent behavior of the pro-Hamas protestors,
8and we encourage university officials to take immediate action
9against them; and be it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That we urge the General Assembly to propose
11legislation that would withhold public funding from
12institutions of higher educations that negotiate with
13anti-Semitic groups and for Governor JB Pritzker to sign that
14legislation into law; and be it further
 
15    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be sent
16to House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, Senate President Don
17Harmon, and Governor JB Pritzker.