093_SR0043
LRB093 10957 HSS 11535 r
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the Ninety-Third
3 Illinois General Assembly are saddened to learn of the tragic
4 deaths of 21 young adults and the injury of 50 more people as
5 a result of a stampede in a crowded nightclub on South
6 Michigan Avenue in Chicago in the early morning of February
7 17, 2003; and
8 WHEREAS, Survivors and other witnesses described victims
9 being trampled as hundreds of patrons trapped on the club's
10 second floor struggled to get out after being panicked by
11 pepper spray; and
12 WHEREAS, With 21 people confirmed dead at eight hospitals
13 and the Cook County medical examiner's office, it was the
14 largest loss of life in a single incident in Chicago since
15 the 1979 crash of Flight 191, which killed 273 people; and
16 WHEREAS, Those who died in the panic ranged in age from
17 19 to 43 years of age and their passing will forever alter
18 the lives of their families, friends, and loved ones; and
19 WHEREAS, The 21 who died are: Nita Anthony; Robert Brown;
20 Demetrica Carwell; Bianca Ferguson; Kevin Gayden; Debra
21 Gill; Danielle Greene; Chanta Jackson; Teresa Johnson-Gordon;
22 David Jones; Charles Lard; LaTorya McGraw; Antonio Myers;
23 Nicole Patterson; Nicole Rainey; DaShand Ray; Damien Riley;
24 Charita Rhodes; Maurice Robinson; Eazay Rogers; and Michael
25 Wilson; and
26 WHEREAS, The Chicago Police and other city officials
27 continue to investigate the incident to determine what
28 happened and what steps can be taken to make sure such a
29 devastating tragedy never occurs again in Chicago; therefore,
30 be it
-2- LRB093 10957 HSS 11535 r
1 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
2 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the loss of
3 life resulting from this tragic event and urge Chicago
4 officials to complete a thorough and timely investigation
5 into this incident and to take appropriate action to prevent
6 further similar tragedies; and be it further
7 RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this preamble and
8 resolution be presented to the families of those who died on
9 February 17, 2003 as an expression of our sorrow for their
10 loss.