Bill Text: IL SR0225 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Declares the month of April 2023 as Sikh Heritage Month.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-04-28 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton [SR0225 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SR0225-Introduced.html

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SR0225 LRB103 32097 MST 61102 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The United States is enriched by the diversity of
its residents who have cultivated a climate of social
tolerance and intellectual pluralism that has sustained the
nation throughout its history; and
WHEREAS, The Sikh community, which originated in Punjab,
India and began immigrating into the United States over 100
years ago, has played an important role in developing Illinois
and the United States; and
WHEREAS, Sikhism is the world's fifth-largest religion,
with nearly 30,000,000 adherents, roughly 1,000,000 of whom
call the United States home; and
WHEREAS, Founded by Guru Nanak in the Punjab region of
India during the 15th century, the Sikh spiritual tradition is
rooted in the belief that every person is equal, regardless of
race, gender, sex, or creed; and
WHEREAS, Believing that every person shares a connection
through the idea of oneness, the Sikh community emerged as a
force for social justice by encouraging female participation
in religious services and initiating interfaith efforts to
combat oppression and injustice; and

SR0225 - 2 - LRB103 32097 MST 61102 r
WHEREAS, The Sikh religion's central principles of
truthful living, service to humanity, and devotion to the
divine being that all faiths worship inspire its believers to
create inclusive communities where all are respected; and
WHEREAS, Through leading charitable events, the Sikh
community embodies the sense of public service that underlies
the founding principles of the United States; and
WHEREAS, The Sikh community has played an important role
in supporting and enriching the social fabric of the State;
and
WHEREAS, Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi,
on the first day of the month of Vaisakhi in the Sikh calendar,
which typically falls on April 14; and
WHEREAS, Vaisakhi is a special occasion in which Sikhs
remember the founding in 1699 of the Order of Khalsa, a
fellowship of devout saint-soldier Sikhs, by the 10th Sikh
Guru to fight tyranny and oppression, which played an
important role in shaping the religion's history and identity;
and
WHEREAS, It is altogether fitting and proper to celebrate

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the day of Vaisakhi alongside Sikhs throughout the world and
to honor the lasting contributions made by the Sikh community
to the State of Illinois and the United States; therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare the month of
April 2023 as "Sikh Heritage Month" in the State of Illinois to
bring attention to those of the Sikh religion and celebrate
their contributions to the State of Illinois.