SR845: SR845 Obama, President Barack; commend and condemn racist attacks and rhetoric directed toward him

26 LC 129 1070 Senate Resolution 845 By: Senators Mangham of the 55th, Wicks of the 34th and Kemp of the 38th A RESOLUTION Commending and honoring former President Barack Obama during Black History Month and1 condemning racist attacks and rhetoric directed toward him, inc luding the Obamas'2 caricaturization as monkeys; and for other purposes.3 WHEREAS, Barack Hussein Obama was born in the United States on August 4, 1961, in4 Honolulu, Hawaii, and from an early age experienced a life shaped by travel, curiosity, and5 engagement with cultures across the United States and the world, including time spent in the6 Midwest and Indonesia; and7 WHEREAS, Barack Obama graduated from Columbia University with a degree in8 International Relations, during which time he actively protested the great historical evil of9 apartheid in South Africa; and10 WHEREAS, in 1988, Barack Obama enrolled at Harvard Law School, where he made history11 as the first Black editor of the Harvard Law Review, graduating magna cum laude in 199112 and beginning a distinguished career as a constitutional law scholar and professor; and13 S. R. 845 - 1 - 26 LC 129 1070 WHEREAS, Obama achieved international literary acclaim with his memoir Dreams From14 My Father, regarded by some as the finest book ever written by a President and outselling15 every other President's book offerings; and16 WHEREAS, from 1997 to 2004, Barack Obama served the people of Illinois as a member17 of the Illinois State Senate before his election to the United States Senate in 2004, where his18 leadership and oratory ignited a hope based movement of people working together to19 continue our nation's progress; and20 WHEREAS, in 2008, Barack Obama was elected the 44th President o f the United States,21 becoming the first Black President in American history, winning an electoral landslide22 unparalleled in the 21st centur y, and drawing nearly 2 million people to the Mall for the23 largest Inaugural ever; and24 WHEREAS, his two-term presidency was marked by recovery from the Great Recession, a25 historic rescue of the American auto industry, the most signifi cant expansion of access to26 health care in generations, and the end of the war in Iraq; and27 WHEREAS, in 2009, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recog nition of his28 contributions to diplomacy and international cooperation; and29 WHEREAS, throughout his public life, presidency, and post-presi dency, Obama endured30 persistent and often vicious racist attacks, including the insidious "birther" movement, which31 sought to delegitimize his presidency with ugly racism; and32 WHEREAS, in 2026, during Black History Month, the sitting President of the United States33 posted a video containing offensive and racist tropes, includin g the caricaturization of the 34 S. R. 845 - 2 - 26 LC 129 1070 Obama family as monkeys, and refused to issue an apology, drawi ng widespread35 condemnation, including rebukes from United States Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina36 who described the video as "the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House"; and37 WHEREAS, such rhetoric stands in direct opposition to the values of equality, dignity, and38 mutual respect that Black History Month exists to honor and uplift; and39 WHEREAS, Barack Obama remains a figure of extraordinary historical importance whose40 life and presidency expanded the boundaries of possibility for millions of Americans and41 inspired generations at home and abroad.42 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body43 recognize and celebrate the extraordinary life, legacy, and service of former President Barack44 Obama during Black History Month.45 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body condemn racist rhetoric and46 conduct from any quarter, including that emanating from the President of the United States,47 and affirm its commitment to the principles of equality, justice, and respect.48 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed49 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the50 press.51 S. R. 845 - 3 -