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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The United Nations has designated the year 2011 as
3the International Year for People of African Descent to
4strengthen national actions and regional and international
5cooperation to ensure that people of African descent fully
6enjoy economic, cultural, social, civil, political, and human
7rights, as well as advance their integration into these aspects
8of society and promote a greater knowledge of and respect for
9their diverse heritage and culture; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The African Diaspora, during which four million
11Africans were forced to migrate to the Western Hemisphere as
12part of the slave trade, created permanent ties between the
13people of Africa and the people of America; and
 
14    WHEREAS, People of African descent worldwide have endured
15the challenges of segregation and inequality and still face
16discrimination to this day; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Overcoming these obstacles, people of African
18descent have made profound contributions to science and
19technology, education, independence and civil rights
20movements, agriculture, language, cuisine, culture, and the
21arts; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, The current economic crisis disproportionately
2threatens access to employment, affordable food and housing,
3health care, education, and criminal and environmental justice
4for people of African descent and other minority communities;
5therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the United
8Nations Declaration of 2011 as the International Year for
9People of African Descent; and be it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That we celebrate the unique contributions of
11people of African descent to the culture of the State of
12Illinois; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That we state our intent to continue our work of
14improving access to justice, human rights, political
15institutions, employment, housing, health care, civil rights,
16education, and environmental justice for people of African
17descent in the State of Illinois.