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| 1 | SENATE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, All children deserve to live in peace and be free | ||||||
| 3 | from violence and discrimination; and | ||||||
| 4 | WHEREAS, Wadee Alfayoumi, a six-year old Palestinian | ||||||
| 5 | Muslim-American boy of Plainfield, was brutally stabbed and | ||||||
| 6 | slain by a hate-driven perpetrator on October 14, 2023; and | ||||||
| 7 | WHEREAS, Wadee Alfayoumi was born to Odai Alfayoumi and | ||||||
| 8 | Hanan Shaheen in the United States on October 6, 2017, and he | ||||||
| 9 | shared a heritage, history, love, culture, tradition, and | ||||||
| 10 | brilliance belonging to Palestinian people; and | ||||||
| 11 | WHEREAS, Wadee Alfayoumi was loved by his family and | ||||||
| 12 | friends as an energetic, affectionate child who brought | ||||||
| 13 | sunshine to his loved ones and classmates; and | ||||||
| 14 | WHEREAS, Wadee Alfayoumi was a radiant light in the lives | ||||||
| 15 | of his parents, a beloved son whose presence was nothing short | ||||||
| 16 | of angelic; his heart was full of love, his spirit was bright, | ||||||
| 17 | and his kindness knew no bounds; and | ||||||
| 18 | WHEREAS, Wadee Alfayoumi found joy in joining his parents | ||||||
| 19 | in prayer, embracing faith with a devotion that defined his | ||||||
| 20 | character; he carried a deep care for the world around him, | ||||||
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| 1 | nurturing a love for the planet and all those he encountered; | ||||||
| 2 | and | ||||||
| 3 | WHEREAS, Wadee Alfayoumi enjoyed coloring, running around | ||||||
| 4 | outside, riding on the swings at the park, and playing with | ||||||
| 5 | Legos or any game involving a ball, and he was especially fond | ||||||
| 6 | of basketball and soccer; and | ||||||
| 7 | WHEREAS, The Islamophobic actions that took the young life | ||||||
| 8 | of Wadee Alfayoumi have no place in our homes, State, and | ||||||
| 9 | nation; and | ||||||
| 10 | WHEREAS, With a future full of promise, Wadee Alfayoumi's | ||||||
| 11 | laughter, warmth, and boundless love left an indelible mark on | ||||||
| 12 | everyone he met; though his time with us was far too brief, his | ||||||
| 13 | love and light continue to touch our hearts every day; his | ||||||
| 14 | memory will forever be a guiding force, serving as a reminder | ||||||
| 15 | of innocence, compassion, and the enduring power of a | ||||||
| 16 | responsibility toward justice that our world needs; and | ||||||
| 17 | WHEREAS, Wadee Alfayoumi was a sweet boy who possessed a | ||||||
| 18 | wonderful smile and dear affection for his family and friends, | ||||||
| 19 | and his legacy will live in our prayers, our actions, and the | ||||||
| 20 | way we care for one another; and | ||||||
| 21 | WHEREAS, The International Day of Peace will be recognized | ||||||
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| 1 | on September 21, 2025, serving as a day that is dedicated to | ||||||
| 2 | peace and the absence of violence; therefore, be it | ||||||
| 3 | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL | ||||||
| 4 | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare September | ||||||
| 5 | 21, 2025 as Wadee Day in the State of Illinois to inspire | ||||||
| 6 | individuals to work together to make the world a more peaceful | ||||||
| 7 | place; and be it further | ||||||
| 8 | RESOLVED, That we mourn the passing of Wadee Alfayoumi and | ||||||
| 9 | extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all | ||||||
| 10 | who knew and loved him. | ||||||