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| 1 | SENATE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | WHEREAS, Sikhs have been living in the United States for | ||||||
| 3 | more than 100 years; during the early 20th century, thousands | ||||||
| 4 | of Sikh Americans worked on farms, in lumber mills and mines, | ||||||
| 5 | and on the Oregon, Pacific, and Eastern Railroads; and
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| 6 | WHEREAS, The Sikhs constitute a well-established, | ||||||
| 7 | religious, social, and ethnic group among the people who have | ||||||
| 8 | immigrated to Illinois and to the United States of America; | ||||||
| 9 | and
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| 10 | WHEREAS, Sikh immigrants have added greatly, both | ||||||
| 11 | culturally and economically, to the State of Illinois and the | ||||||
| 12 | United States while simultaneously continuing to maintain | ||||||
| 13 | their own culture and traditions; and
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| 14 | WHEREAS, Sikh Americans pursue diverse professions and | ||||||
| 15 | make rich contributions to the social, cultural, and economic | ||||||
| 16 | vibrancy of the State of Illinois and the United States, | ||||||
| 17 | including serving in the United States Armed Forces and | ||||||
| 18 | offering significant contributions in agriculture, information | ||||||
| 19 | technology, small businesses, the hotel industry, trucking, | ||||||
| 20 | medicine, and technology; and
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| 21 | WHEREAS, Sikhism is the fifth-largest religion in the | ||||||
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| 1 | world; today, there are more than 30 million Sikhs worldwide, | ||||||
| 2 | an estimated 500,000 Sikh Americans, and 25,000 Sikhs residing | ||||||
| 3 | in the State of Illinois; and
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| 4 | WHEREAS, This year marks the 400th birth anniversary of | ||||||
| 5 | the ninth Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, who was born on | ||||||
| 6 | April 18, 1621; and
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| 7 | WHEREAS, Sikh Americans have distinguished themselves by | ||||||
| 8 | fostering respect among all people through faith and service; | ||||||
| 9 | and
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| 10 | WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is committed to the value | ||||||
| 11 | of religious diversity, tolerance grounded in the First | ||||||
| 12 | Amendment principles, a culture of mutual understanding, the | ||||||
| 13 | diminution of violence, and educating citizens about the | ||||||
| 14 | world's religions; and
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| 15 | WHEREAS, The State of Illinois seeks to further the | ||||||
| 16 | diversity of its community and afford all residents the | ||||||
| 17 | opportunity to better understand, recognize, and appreciate | ||||||
| 18 | the rich history and shared experiences of Sikh Americans; and
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| 19 | WHEREAS, The State of Illinois honors the many ways that | ||||||
| 20 | Sikh Americans have influenced American history, achievement, | ||||||
| 21 | culture, and innovation; therefore, be it
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| 1 | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL | ||||||
| 2 | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare April 2021 | ||||||
| 3 | as Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month in the State of | ||||||
| 4 | Illinois; and be it further
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| 5 | RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be | ||||||
| 6 | delivered to the Sikh Religious Society.
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