SR0309 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0309 LRB102 18530 ECR 26760 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Marcos Muñoz, who passed away on May 15, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Marcos Muñoz was born in Cuidad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico on April 25, 1941; and

WHEREAS, Marcos Muñoz crossed the border at the age of 13 to look for work to help feed his family; he was hired to feed farm animals and had to sleep in a barn; after six months, when he tried to obtain his $3 a day salary, he was instead deported; as an adult, he worked the migrant trail from Texas, to Colorado, to Arizona, to California, and to Washington State; after his time working with the United Farm Workers, he became a Steel Worker for 11 years; he then worked at Cook County Hospital as manager of supplies and linen before his retirement; and

WHEREAS, In 1965, Marcos Muñoz met Cesar Chavez and went on strike with the United Farm Workers; he successfully led the grape boycott in Boston from 1968 to 1971; he helped establish the ranch committees in Arvin/Lemont after the first contracts were signed in 1970; he was the East Coast Boycott Coordinator from 1971 to 1972 and then was sent to Chicago as the Midwest Boycott Coordinator from 1972 to 1975; and

WHEREAS, Since settling in the Little Village community of Chicago, Marcos Muñoz has been an important activist; he helped to organize block clubs throughout the neighborhood, worked to elect representatives from the community, fought alongside his neighbors to build strong neighborhood schools, and worked to establish a family medicine primary care clinic that provides care, including dental, to all without regard to insurance coverage; and

WHEREAS, Marcos Muñoz is survived by his wife, Andrea O'Malley Muñoz; his daughter, Maria; his grandson, Anthony Thompson (Montenay Thomas); and his great-grandson, Zion Omega Thompson; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Marcos Muñoz and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Marcos Muñoz as an expression of our deepest sympathy.