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| | HR0015 | | LRB103 25627 MST 51976 r |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | | WHEREAS, Following World War II, the Soviet Union occupied |
| 3 | | Hungary and forced an anti-democratic and brutal government |
| 4 | | upon the people of Hungary; and
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| 5 | | WHEREAS, On October 23, 1956, over 100,000 ordinary |
| 6 | | citizens became "Freedom Fighters" and revolted against their |
| 7 | | Soviet communist government in what started as a peaceful |
| 8 | | protest but turned violent when protestors were fired upon by |
| 9 | | security police, triggering a bloody fight for freedom; and
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| 10 | | WHEREAS, The Soviet Union launched a military |
| 11 | | counter-offense to suppress the revolt, but not before |
| 12 | | thousands gave their lives for freedom; more than 200,000 |
| 13 | | Hungarians fled their country in the aftermath of the Soviet |
| 14 | | suppression of the Hungarian Uprising, and over 47,000 of |
| 15 | | these people eventually settled in the United States; and
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| 16 | | WHEREAS, On October 23, 1989, the Republic of Hungary |
| 17 | | declared its independence, which contributed to the collapse |
| 18 | | of the Soviet Union and communism in Eastern Europe; |
| 19 | | Hungarians led the first revolt against communist occupiers |
| 20 | | and inspired other captive nations to defend their freedom; |
| 21 | | and
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| | HR0015 | - 2 - | LRB103 25627 MST 51976 r |
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, On March 12, 1999, Hungary became a member of |
| 2 | | NATO, and on May 1, 2004, Hungary become a member of the |
| 3 | | European Union; as a former Warsaw Pact nation, Hungary has |
| 4 | | proven itself as a reliable military ally in support against |
| 5 | | the global war on terrorism and as a provider of humanitarian |
| 6 | | aid in the pandemic fight against COVID-19; and
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| 7 | | WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is proud to be called home |
| 8 | | by a large number of Hungarians, Hungarian Americans, and |
| 9 | | their descendants, who have contributed greatly to the |
| 10 | | economic development, multicultural diversity, and enrichment |
| 11 | | of all aspects of life in the State; therefore, be it
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| 12 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE |
| 13 | | HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that |
| 14 | | we recognize the 66th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution |
| 15 | | and the sacrifices of the brave Hungarian freedom fighters and |
| 16 | | the great contributions of Hungarian-Americans in Illinois, |
| 17 | | and we reaffirm the friendship between the people and |
| 18 | | government of Illinois and the country of Hungary; and be it |
| 19 | | further
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| 20 | | RESOLVED, That we declare October 23, 2023 as "Hungarian |
| 21 | | Freedom Fighters Day" and declare October 2023 as "Hungarian |
| 22 | | Freedom Month" in the State of Illinois; and be it further
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