SJ0064LRB103 40583 LAW 73177 r

1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, John Lewis served in the United States House of 
3Representatives and was a civil rights activist; and
 
4    WHEREAS, After a long career in public service, John Lewis 
5died of pancreatic cancer on July 17, 2020; and
 
6    WHEREAS, John Lewis participated in the Nashville sit-ins 
7during the 1960s and was a part of the Nashville Student 
8Movement organization during the civil rights movement; and
 
9    WHEREAS, In 1961, John Lewis became one of the 13 original 
10Freedom Riders; and
 
11    WHEREAS, John Lewis served as chairman of the Student 
12Nonviolent Coordinating Committee; and
 
13    WHEREAS, John Lewis served as one of the leaders of the 
14March on Washington, which gathered approximately 250,000 
15people to advocate for the civil and economic rights of 
16African Americans and was also the location where Dr. Martin 
17Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech; 
18therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL 
 
 
SJ0064- 2 -LRB103 40583 LAW 73177 r

1ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF 
2REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we declare February 
321, 2024 as John Lewis Day in the State of Illinois to remind 
4us of the accomplishments of this civil rights icon and to 
5honor his legacy and dedication to public service.