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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Alice Palmer, who passed away on May
425, 2023 at the age of 83; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Alice Palmer was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on
6June 20, 1939; she attended Indiana University as an
7undergraduate before moving to Chicago, where she received her
8master's degree from Roosevelt University and a doctorate from
9Northwestern University; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Alice Palmer co-authored two books on adult
11literacy during her time at Northwestern University; she also
12tutored at Northwestern University's Black House, a longtime
13hub for Black student life; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Alice Palmer taught at Malcolm X College, where
15she met her husband, Buzz Palmer; they held the first
16fundraiser for Harold Washington's mayoral campaign; they also
17co-founded the Black Press Institute and started an
18international news digest, the Black Press Review; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Alice Palmer served as a member of the Illinois
20Senate from 1991 through 1997; she was credited with helping
21launch President Barack Obama's political career after

 

 

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1supporting him as the best choice to fill her vacated Senate
2seat when she ran for Congress; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Alice Palmer helped organize the 1980s
4anti-apartheid movement in Chicago; during a protest, she and
5others held an anti-apartheid poster that she later presented
6to South African President Nelson Mandela; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Alice Palmer enjoyed watching classic movies and
8BBC mysteries; she also collected antique teddy bears; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Alice Palmer is survived by her son, David
10Robinson; her daughter, Zella Palmer; her stepdaughter, Lisa
11Palmer; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild;
12therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
15Alice Palmer and extend our sincere condolences to her family,
16friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18presented to the family of Alice Palmer as an expression of our
19deepest sympathy.