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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Reverend
4Walter "Slim" Coleman of Chicago, who passed away on April 16,
52024; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Rev. Coleman was born on August 20, 1943; he was
7raised in Lubbock, Texas; he attended Harvard University,
8where he dropped out shortly before graduation to begin his
9life in activism, later finishing his degree; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Rev. Coleman was an influential Chicago activist
11for more than six decades; he served as an advocate for civil
12rights and social justice causes and led countless
13demonstrations; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Rev. Coleman became involved with the Student
15Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a predominantly Black,
16student-run civil rights group; after the organization
17dissolved, he moved from Cleveland to Chicago in 1966, where
18he began working with the Students for a Democratic Society,
19an organization whose headquarters were located near the
20Illinois Black Panther Party Headquarters on Madison Street,
21leading him to become acquainted with Chairman Fred Hampton;
22and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, After parting ways with the Students for a
2Democratic Society, Rev. Coleman created the People's
3Information Center in Lincoln, which functioned as part of the
4Black Panther Party and aided thousands of poor whites and
5Latinos who lived on Chicago's North Side; and
 
6    WHEREAS, After Hampton's death in 1969, Rev. Coleman
7established the Intercommunal Survival Collective of the Black
8Panther Party in Uptown, which provided food, education, and
9legal assistance; his organization evolved into the Heart of
10Uptown Coalition; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Through his monumental voter registration efforts
12in Chicago's poor white communities, Rev. Coleman played a
13pivotal role in Harold Washington's historic and successful
14campaign to become Chicago's first Black mayor in 1983; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Rev. Coleman created the Fair Share organization
16with his future wife, Emma Lozano, to fight gentrification in
17the West Town and Bucktown communities; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Rev. Coleman later became a pastor and led the
19Adalberto United Methodist Church in Humboldt Park, serving
20that church and the Lincoln United Methodist Church in Pilsen;
21and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Rev. Coleman served as an immigration policy aide
2to former U.S. Representative Luis Gutiérrez; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Rev. Coleman loved playing guitar and music,
4especially country, blues, and folk; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Rev. Coleman leaves behind a legacy of community
6leadership and activism on behalf of people and communities
7fighting for fairness and access to resources and power in
8Chicago; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Rev. Coleman is survived by his wife; five
10children, Robert Rico, Anita Rico, Tanya Lozano, Joline
11Lozano, and Roberto C. Lopez; and six grandchildren;
12therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
14HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
15we mourn the passing of Reverend Walter "Slim" Coleman and
16extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all
17who knew and loved him; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19presented to the family of Rev. Coleman as an expression of our
20deepest sympathy.