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HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Both Hamas and Hezbollah are recognized by the
3U.S. Department of State as Foreign Terrorist Organizations;
4and
 
5    WHEREAS, On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise
6attack to deliberately target Israeli civilians, which
7included the killing and abduction of men, women, children,
8and the elderly; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Hamas' stated goal is the total destruction of
10the State of Israel and the murder of its Jewish citizens; and
 
11    WHEREAS, A disturbing number of student organizations at
12institutions of higher education have placed blame solely upon
13the State of Israel for the attack and have expressed support
14for the terrorist actions of Hamas through the glorification
15of violence and the usage of anti-Semitic rhetoric; and
 
16    WHEREAS, On October 9, 2023, the national leadership of
17Students for Justice in Palestine declared a "day of
18resistance", calling on student chapters across the United
19States to demonstrate by "not just slogans and rallies, but
20armed confrontation with oppressors" and, following this
21announcement, many chapters issued pro-Hamas statements; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, On October 10, 2023, a Stanford University
2lecturer targeted Jewish students during a class on
3colonialism, justifying the actions of Hamas terrorists by
4calling them "freedom fighters" and asking Jewish students to
5identify themselves and stand in the corner to illustrate what
6"Jews were doing to Palestinians"; and
 
7    WHEREAS, On October 15, 2023, in a complete disregard for
8humanity, a Cornell University professor grabbed the
9microphone at a campus rally and said that "Hamas has
10challenged the monopoly of violence"; in reference to Hamas'
11terror attack on Israel, he also said "It was exhilarating",
12"It was energizing", and "I was exhilarated"; and
 
13    WHEREAS, On October 22, 2023, the Brandeis University
14student government voted down a simple resolution condemning
15Hamas and calling on the immediate release of all hostages
16back to their families unharmed; and
 
17    WHEREAS, On October 24, 2023, George Washington University
18students, at a vigil to support Hamas' surprise attack,
19prominently projected signs on the walls of the university's
20library, including "Glory to our Martyrs"; and
 
21    WHEREAS, On October 25, 2023, a walkout and protests took

 

 

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1place at DePaul University in Chicago featuring over 100
2students, where the chant "Death to Zionism" was heard and
3flags for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a
4Syria-based terrorist group, were seen; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The University of Illinois chapter of Students
6for Justice in Palestine shared a video showing what appears
7to be a Hamas terrorist filming himself inside of the home of
8an Israeli family during the October 7th attack; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Many administrations of institutions of higher
10education do not follow the practice of institutional
11neutrality and frequently speak out on public issues but have
12failed to speak out clearly after Hamas' October 7th attack,
13exposing their lack of regard for their Jewish and pro-Israel
14students; and
 
15    WHEREAS, The glorification of violence and the usage of
16anti-Semitic rhetoric creates a hostile learning and working
17environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff;
18therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
20HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
21we condemn the support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other
22terrorist organizations at institutions of higher education,

 

 

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1which may lead to the creation of a hostile environment for
2Jewish students, faculty, and staff; and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That we call on campus administrators to condemn
4all forms of anti-Semitism on college campuses and to ensure
5Jewish students, faculty, and guests can exercise the same
6free speech rights as are guaranteed to all other students,
7faculty, and guests without intimidation; and be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That we urge the enforcement of State and
9federal civil rights laws to protect Jewish students from
10anti-Semitism; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That we offer our sympathy and compassion to
12families and individuals suffering from the current
13Israel-Hamas conflict; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
15delivered to the presidents of each four-year public and
16private institution of higher education in Illinois.