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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, As a means of memorializing the victims and the
3survivors of the Holocaust and other genocides that have
4occurred throughout history, the Illinois General Assembly
5joins institutions around the world in recognizing April as
6Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The goal of Genocide Awareness and Prevention
8Month is to educate the public about the history of previous
9and contemporary genocides, the dangers of unchallenged hate
10and indifference, and the need to encourage citizen engagement
11through advocacy and action against future genocides; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Many of these genocides have stemmed from events
13that occurred in the month of April, or have defining moments
14at that time of year, including Armenia, the Holocaust,
15Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Darfur; and
 
16    WHEREAS, In 2005, the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Study
17Mandate was adopted so that every public elementary school and
18high school shall include in its curriculum, a unit of
19instruction studying the events of the Nazi atrocities of 1933
20to 1945, and an additional unit of instruction studying other
21acts of genocide across the globe; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, In 2010, the Illinois Legislature passed the
2Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission Act, which created
3the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission; the commission
4is dedicated to promoting and providing guidance on Holocaust
5and genocide education and commemoration across the State; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Many Illinois residents have endured acts of
7genocide and atrocities in their countries of origin; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly condemns and
9desires to combat all acts of genocide and atrocities; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Educating the public about the evils of genocide
11and commemorating victims of genocide, including the adoption
12of a Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month, are effective
13tools that will further these goals; therefore, be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
16CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate April 2014 as Genocide
17Awareness and Prevention Month.