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HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The people of Haiti have demonstrated resilience
3throughout history and have fought on the front lines for
4freedom and human dignity; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Haiti was the first nation in the world to
6abolish slavery and the slave trade after the Haitian
7Revolution; this acted as a beacon for Africans and people of
8African descent who were enslaved in racial chattel slavery
9around the world; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Throughout history, the United States and France
11have acted to undermine the freedom of the Haitian people and
12to prevent economic self-determination and have looted the
13wealth of Haitians; this has undermined the ability of
14Haitians to build a stable political and economic system; and
 
15    WHEREAS, The recent assassination of the president of
16Haiti has caused further economic, political, and social
17instability; and
 
18    WHEREAS, An unstable economic and political system in
19Haiti has caused the government of Haiti to be unable to
20respond to natural disasters in a manner that provides relief,
21rebuilding, and reinvestment; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Many Haitians have come to view the United States
2as a compassionate nation that can help them realize freedom,
3self-determination, and economic success in the modern world;
4this belief exists despite the historical treatment of Haitian
5people by the U.S. government and despite the failures,
6current and historical, in the treatment of African Americans,
7Black Americans, and other people of African descent in the
8United States; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Recently, brave groups of Haitian people sought
10refuge in the United States in order to build a better life;
11these brave groups were treated in an unfair, undignified, and
12inhumane manner by some members of the Border Patrol,
13including being charged on horseback, having the reins of
14horses used as lashes and whips against them, and being
15shouted at with demeaning and xenophobic language; therefore,
16be it
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
18HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
19we condemn the actions of the members of the U.S. Border Patrol
20who treated Haitian migrants and refugees with disrespect and
21in an inhumane manner; and be it further
 
22    RESOLVED, That we condemn United States policies that have

 

 

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1undermined the people of Haiti and their ability to build a
2stable economic and political system and have helped cause
3thousands of Haitian people to look elsewhere for a better
4life; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That we urge President Biden and the United
6States Congress to adopt a compassionate and humane
7immigration system that respects the dignity and value of each
8human life, including the Haitian people who wish to make a
9life in the United States; and be it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
11delivered to President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala
12Harris, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate President
13Chuck Schumer, and all members of the Illinois Congressional
14delegation.