SR0517enr 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

09900SR0517 Enrolled LRB099 11938 GRL 35231 r

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 517

WHEREAS, It is the sense of the Illinois Senate to recognize and commend individuals and events which celebrate our nation's great struggle to fulfill the promise of equality and opportunity for all; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, the State of Illinois is justly proud to commemorate the 90th birthday of Malcolm X, a singular human rights activist and one of the most influential African-American leaders in history; and

WHEREAS, Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 19, 1925; on January 14, 1958, he married Betty Sanders; they had 6 children, Attallah, Qubilah, Iiyasah, Gamilah, Malaak, and Malikah; and

WHEREAS, Malcolm X was a Muslim minister, public speaker, and human rights activist; to his admirers, he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African-Americans in the face of institutionalized racism and an organizer of the African-American community across the United States and the State of Illinois to stand up to inequality and injustices and secure freedom; and

WHEREAS, Malcolm X's pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, proved life-altering; he shared his thoughts and beliefs with different cultures and found the common thread that equality is not just a matter of civil rights but human rights; and

WHEREAS, When he returned to the United States, Malcolm X mentioned that he had met men of all races that he could call his brothers; he also returned to the United States with an outlook on the African-American struggle for equality, a new message for all citizens, and a new hope for opportunity for all; and

WHEREAS, Perhaps Malcolm X's greatest contribution to society was underscoring the value of a truly free populace by demonstrating the great lengths to which human beings will go to secure their freedom; "Power in defense of freedom is greater than power in behalf of tyranny and oppression," he stated, "Because power, real power, comes from our conviction which produces action..."; and

WHEREAS, Malcolm X advocated for equality and, in the 1964 election year, for each citizen to exercise their right to vote and produce positive change through the democratic process; and

WHEREAS, On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated while giving a lecture in the Audubon Ballroom in New York City; the ballroom was subsequently designated as a landmark and currently houses the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center; and

WHEREAS, Malcolm X died fighting to uphold the universal message of human rights for all: that every human has the right to dignity and rights in the country they live in, while being honored as a valuable contribution to the diverse tapestry that is America; and

WHEREAS, Malcolm X designated his last name as "X" so long as the situation that demanded it continued to exist, meaning that he cared about the human rights of all peoples, and not only those of particular communities; and

WHEREAS, In 1969, in honor of the slain civil rights leader, Crane Junior College in Chicago was renamed Malcolm X College; and

WHEREAS, In January of 1999, the United States Postal Service announced the debut of the new Malcolm X postage stamp; the 33-cent commemorative stamp is the 22nd stamp in the Postal Service's Black Heritage series; the Postal Service declared that Malcolm X was one of the most "influential Black leaders of the 1960s", and that he shaped the debate about race relations and strategies for social change; and

WHEREAS, Malcolm X worked to advance human rights for all; Chicago and New York were the 2 main cities that he worked in; and

WHEREAS, Malcolm X Day recognizes human rights for all and aligns with the State's and the City of Chicago's commitment to embracing and celebrating the diversity of their populations; and

WHEREAS, Recognizing a Malcolm X Day in Illinois is a way to continue to express its commitment to human rights for all by recognizing the message of Malcolm X in these lands; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate May 19, 2015, and every May 19 thereafter as Malcolm X Day in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage the citizens of Illinois to pay tribute to the life and works of Malcolm X through participation in community service projects on this day and ask the Members of this Body to urge their constituents to do the same; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we recognize the inherent value of community service and volunteerism in the creation of an equal society and as a means of progress consistent with the works of Malcolm X; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we acknowledge that, by serving one's community and one's neighbor, the State of Illinois makes progress in opportunity and equality for all, consistent with the values and life's work of Malcolm X.