SR729: SR729 Obama, Former President Barack; commend and condemning racist attacks and rhetoric directed toward him

26 LC 129 1032 Senate Resolution 729 By: Senators Jones II of the 22nd, Jackson of the 41st, Parent of the 44th, Orrock of the 36th, Merritt of the 9th and others A RESOLUTION Commending and honoring former President Barack Obama during Black History Month and1 condemning racist attacks and rhetoric directed toward him; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Barack Hussein Obama was born in the United States on August 4, 1961, in3 Honolulu, Hawaii, and from an early age experienced a life shaped by travel, curiosity, and4 engagement with cultures across the United States and the world, including time spent in the5 Midwest and Indonesia; and6 W H E R E A S , B a r a c k O b a m a g r a d u a t e d f r o m C o l u m b i a U n i v e r s i t y w i t h a degree in7 International Relations, during which time he actively protested the great historical evil of8 apartheid in South Africa; and9 WHEREAS, in 1988, Barack Obama enrolled at Harvard Law School, where he made history10 as the first Black editor of the Harvard Law Review, graduating magna cum laude in 199111 and beginning a distinguished career as a constitutional law scholar and professor; and12 WHEREAS, Obama achieved international literary acclaim with his memoir Dreams From13 My Father, regarded by some as the finest book ever written by a President and outselling14 every other President's book offerings; and15 S. R. 729 - 1 - 26 LC 129 1032 WHEREAS, from 1997 to 2004, Barack Obama served the people of Illinois as a member16 of the Illinois State Senate before his election to the United States Senate in 2004, where his17 leadership and oratory ignited a hope based movement of people working together to18 continue our nation's progress; and19 WHEREAS, in 2008, Barack Obama was elected the 44th President o f the United States,20 becoming the first Black President in American history, winning an electoral landslide21 unparalleled in the 21st century, and drawing nearly 2 million people to the Mall for the22 largest Inaugural ever; and23 WHEREAS, his two-term presidency was marked by recovery from the Great Recession, a24 historic rescue of the American auto industry, the most signifi cant expansion of access to25 health care in generations, and the end of the war in Iraq; and26 WHEREAS, in 2009, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recog nition of his27 contributions to diplomacy and international cooperation; and28 WHEREAS, throughout his public life, presidency, and post-presi dency, Obama endured29 persistent and often vicious racist attacks, including the insidious "birther" movement, which30 sought to delegitimize his presidency with ugly racism; and31 WHEREAS, in 2026, during Black History Month, the sitting President of the United States32 posted a video containing offensive and racist tropes and refus ed to issue an apology,33 drawing widespread condemnation, including rebukes from United States Senator Tim Scott34 from South Carolina who described the video as "the most racist thing I've seen out of this35 White House"; and36 S. R. 729 - 2 - 26 LC 129 1032 WHEREAS, such rhetoric stands in direct opposition to the values of equality, dignity, and37 mutual respect that Black History Month exists to honor and uplift; and38 WHEREAS, Barack Obama remains a figure of extraordinary historical importance whose39 life and presidency expanded the boundaries of possibility for millions of Americans and40 inspired generations at home and abroad.41 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body42 recognize and celebrate the extraordinary life, legacy, and service of former President Barack43 Obama during Black History Month.44 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body condemn racist rhetoric and45 conduct from any quarter, including that emanating from the President of the United States,46 and affirm its commitment to the principles of equality, justice, and respect.47 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed48 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the49 press.50 S. R. 729 - 3 -