Bill Text: IL SR1609 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Condemns the remarks of U.S. Congresswoman Mary Miller. Condemns anti-Semitic statements and rejects attempts to justify hate speech. Calls on the U.S. House of Representatives to censure Congresswoman Miller.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Failed) 2021-01-13 - Session Sine Die [SR1609 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-SR1609-Introduced.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The first amendment to the Constitution
established the United States as a country committed to the
principles of tolerance and religious freedom, and the 14th
amendment to the Constitution established equal protection of
the laws as the heart of justice in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Adherence to these principles is vital to the
progress of the American people and the diverse communities and
religious groups of the United States; and
WHEREAS, Whether from the political right, center, or left,
bigotry, discrimination, oppression, and anti-Semitism
threaten American democracy;
WHEREAS, Anti-Semitism is the centuries-old bigotry and
form of racism faced by Jewish people simply because they are
Jews; and
WHEREAS, The appalling rise of hate speech and
anti-Semitism across the country calls on all who value
diversity, respect, and civility as the heart of a functioning
democracy to stand united against bigotry and hate of all
kinds; and

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WHEREAS, There was a 37% increase in anti-Semitic incidents
reported to the FBI between 2016-2017; and
WHEREAS, There were 1,564 religious-based incidents
reported to the FBI in 2017, the second-highest level since
statistics have been gathered; and
WHEREAS, On January 6, 2021, a gathering at the U.S.
Capitol building inflicted atrocious vandalism and destruction
at one of our nation's most sacred symbols of democracy, as
well as caused the tragic death of a U.S. Capitol Police
officer and the assault and injury of countless others; and
WHEREAS, This gathering drew hate groups from across the
nation, many of whom brandished symbols of anti-Semitism as
they invaded the building and threatened violence against
lawmakers, staff, security guards, and other federal employees
and against our very democracy; and
WHEREAS, The gathering has since spurred threats on state
capitols, resulting in additional security measures here in the
Illinois Capitol Complex; and
WHEREAS, The day before this horrific event, U.S.
Congresswoman Mary Miller invoked Adolf Hitler's obscene
methods for indoctrinating children by stating "whoever has

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youth has the future," with racism and fascism as a guidepost
to ignite hate and violence; and
WHEREAS, An elected official, whether a member of congress
or a state assembly, should be held to a higher standard; and
WHEREAS, Mary Miller should realize the pain her remarks
caused for members of the Jewish community for whom the horrors
of 6 million murdered Jews, of which 1.5 million were children,
experienced at the hands of Nazi Germany strike at the core of
the holocaust and elicit one of the darkest moments of history;
and
WHEREAS, The Illinois Jewish Legislative Caucus responded
to this insensitive and disturbing remark by calling for Mary
Miller's resignation in an online petition that has currently
over 25,000 signatures; and
WHEREAS, Our legislative body must rise together against
bigotry and refuse to accept hatred as our nation’s new normal;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we condemn the hateful
remarks of U.S. Congresswoman Mary Miller; and be it further

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RESOLVED, That we condemn anti-Semitic statements and acts
as hateful expressions of intolerance; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we reject attempts to justify hate speech or
violent attacks as an acceptable expression; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage all State, local, and federal
officials to confront the reality of anti-Semitism,
hate-speech, and other forms of bigotry; and be it further
RESOLVED, That words matter, more so when they are spoken
by a public official and when those words incite hate groups to
action; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we call on the U.S. House of Representatives
to formally censure Congresswoman Miller for her remarks and
insensitive, reprehensible, anti-Semitic rhetoric; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That we stand in solidarity against hate,
bigotry, and anti-Semitic rhetoric of all kinds; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
delivered to the U.S. Congress, the President of the United
States, and the Vice-President of the United States on January

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21, 2021.