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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are deeply saddened to learn of the death of
4 our friend and colleague, State Representative Eddie P.
5 Washington of Waukegan, who passed away on June 5, 2010; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Eddie Washington was born in St. Louis, Missouri
7 on June 8, 1953; he grew up in East St. Louis, taking great
8 pride and inspiration in the number of East St. Louisans who
9 made major contributions to American arts, letters, science,
10 sports, and civic life; he moved to Waukegan in 1985; he
11 quickly became known as a passionate advocate for equal rights
12 and for helping marginalized groups gain empowerment through
13 the political process; and
 
14     WHEREAS, He was educated in the public schools of East St.
15 Louis and received a bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois
16 University at Edwardsville and East St. Louis, majoring in
17 political science and journalism; he also graduated from the
18 College of Lake County; and
 
19     WHEREAS, He was a trailblazer for African Americans across
20 the State and in Lake County; a plaintiff in a federal court
21 case, Washington vs. Walker (1975), he was subsequently
22 credited with breaking down institutional barriers that had

 

 

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1 kept blacks, Latinos, and women from gainful employment as
2 Illinois State Police officers; he began his long road of
3 public service in 1986 as a precinct committeeman; he started
4 the first African American Police League of Waukegan and North
5 Chicago, became the first African American to be elected
6 Trustee of the North Shore Sanitary District, and the first to
7 serve as Chairman of the Waukegan Democratic Organization; in
8 2002, he became the first African American State legislator
9 elected from Lake County and was re-elected State
10 representative three times; he was a member of the Legislative
11 Black Caucus; and
 
12     WHEREAS, He spent decades working with community
13 organizations in the Metro East and Northeastern Illinois, even
14 founding his own activist group, P.O.W.E.R. (People Organized
15 Working for Equal Respect); he collaborated closely with the
16 Lake County NAACP to improve the quality of life for local
17 residents; he was a stalwart ally of the John Howard
18 Association and supported its efforts to provide more humane
19 living conditions for the incarcerated and to equip them with
20 skills needed to become contributing members of society after
21 their release; and
 
22     WHEREAS, He served as the Director of Employment and
23 Economic Development for the Lake County Urban League,
24 solidifying his commitment to the cause of prosperity through

 

 

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1 job creation; he was an active voice to encourage new
2 businesses to open in North Chicago and Waukegan, particularly
3 in the Tenth Street Corridor; he promoted the development of
4 green jobs and was outspoken on the need for Illinois to become
5 a leader in renewable energy; and
 
6     WHEREAS, He served as an advocate for at-risk youth by
7 promoting programs to provide them with positive alternatives
8 and direction so that they might achieve their fullest
9 potential; he was especially concerned about youth
10 unemployment and the need to extend job creation efforts to
11 help young people as well as adults; he worked closely with
12 local youth organizations and schools to encourage students and
13 guide them towards a positive future; and
 
14     WHEREAS, As a former Corrections Deputy Officer with the
15 Lake County Sheriff's Department, he had the unique experience
16 of working both in law enforcement and as a mentor to help
17 ex-offenders turn their lives around; he worked with local law
18 enforcement to further public safety by curbing gang and gun
19 violence; he was a strong advocate for prison reform, believing
20 that a criminal justice system that ignores rehabilitation and
21 simply churns ex-offenders through a revolving door does
22 nothing to better society or prevent crime; he was Chairman of
23 the House Prison Reform Committee, presiding over many hearings
24 and offering guidance on legislative measures dealing with

 

 

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1 prison reform; and
 
2     WHEREAS, He maintained a close relationship with organized
3 labor in Illinois, helping in the fight for better wages and
4 opportunities for working families; he was a member of the
5 United Transportation Union through his job as a Metra
6 conductor and took pride in maintaining commuter safety; and
 
7     WHEREAS, He was an advocate for a strong education system
8 and fought for resources for the schools in his district,
9 including new greenhouses for the Neal Math and Science Academy
10 and Jefferson Middle School to help students interested in
11 agricultural science gain firsthand experience; and
 
12     WHEREAS, He was particularly passionate about issues
13 affecting senior citizens; he served as Chairman of the House
14 Aging Committee and held numerous public events and educational
15 forums for his district's older adults; of particular
16 importance to him was helping grandparents raising
17 grandchildren, and he was instrumental in passing legislation
18 to provide assistance and guidance to the thousands of older
19 Illinoisans who answer the call to help ensure a strong
20 upbringing for family members whose biological parents are not
21 able to care for them; during the 96th General Assembly he also
22 served as a member of the Human Services Appropriations, Labor,
23 Mass Transit, and Workers' Compensation committees, and was the

 

 

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1 Vice-Chairperson of the Public Safety Appropriations
2 Committee; and
 
3     WHEREAS, He was a deeply religious man; he was baptized and
4 joined the Straightway Baptist Church under the leadership of
5 Reverend Tolliver and was called later in life to the Nation of
6 Islam through the guidance of Minister Louis Farrakhan; and
 
7     WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his father, Edward E.
8 Washington, Sr.; and his brother, David C. Washington; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Representative Eddie Washington is survived by
10 his wife, Flor D'Luis Washington; his three sons, Albert Aziz
11 (Sandreika) Moore, Malik (Mikell) Moore, and Elias Washington;
12 his four daughters, Tikisha (Lawrence) Johnson, Kieanda Moore,
13 Asiah Rose Washington, and Raquela Washington; his mother, Rose
14 Washington; his two brothers, Edward E. Washington, Jr. and
15 Kevin D. Washington; his 10 grandchildren; as well as many
16 aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends; and his passing will be
17 felt by his constituents in the 60th House District; therefore,
18 be it
 
19     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
20 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
21 mourn, along with his friends, family, and constituents, the
22 passing of a man who worked tirelessly to be a voice for all

 

 

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1 the people he represented, one who refused to accept the status
2 quo and always sought new ways to better the lives of
3 Illinoisans, State Representative Eddie P. Washington; and be
4 it further
 
5     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6 presented to the family of State Representative Eddie
7 Washington as a symbol of our sympathy for their loss and of
8 our deep respect.