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1		SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, On Monday, July 4, 2022, the City of Highland
3		Park and thousands of its residents and neighbors gathered for
4		its annual Fourth of July parade; and
5		WHEREAS, For generations, Highland Park has hosted this
6		parade, one of the largest Fourth of July gatherings in the
7		northern suburbs of Chicago; and
8		WHEREAS, At 10:14 a.m., tragedy struck as an alleged lone
9		gunman opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle at the
10		intersection of 2nd Street and Central Avenue in downtown
11		Highland Park; and
12		WHEREAS, In less than one minute, the assailant shot 83
13		bullets into the crowd, killing 7 and injuring dozens; and
14		WHEREAS, As residents ran from the gunfire, placed their
15		bodies over their loved ones, and sought safety, first
16		responders who had come to watch the parade put themselves in
17		harm's way; and
18		WHEREAS, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members
19		and community volunteers rushed to the scene and bravely
20		worked side by side with fire and police personnel and medical

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1		professionals, helping to save lives through their quick
2		action; and
3		WHEREAS, Law enforcement officers from Highland Park and
4		hundreds of others throughout the State of Illinois and at all
5		levels of government worked together to quickly secure
6		downtown Highland Park and later apprehend the suspect; and
7		WHEREAS, Mayor Nancy Rotering admirably and strongly led
8		the grieving Highland Park community in the minutes
9		immediately after the shooting and in the weeks and months
10		following the shooting, as the international community looked
11		to her leadership; and
12		WHEREAS, City Manager Ghida Neukirch selflessly ran to the
13		scene of the shooting to provide first aid to gunshot victims,
14		going far above and beyond her duties and providing
15		extraordinary care to the Highland Park community in the
16		moments following the shooting; and
17		WHEREAS, Physicians, nurses, and other staff raced to
18		Highland Park Hospital to assist the injured, some coming
19		straight from the parade, doing incredible work under intense
20		and difficult circumstances; and
21		WHEREAS, Hundreds of therapists, counselors, and social

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1		workers have supported those experiencing trauma from what
2		they witnessed during and after the shooting; and
3		WHEREAS, Gun violence remains a deeply concerning issue
4		across the State, with numerous incidents highlighting the
5		urgent need for effective prevention strategies; and
6		WHEREAS, It is essential to acknowledge recent incidents
7		that have underscored the devastating impact of gun violence
8		on individuals, families, and communities in Chicago; and
9		WHEREAS, From May 12 to May 14, 2023, there were eight
10		fatalities and 20 others injured due to gun violence in the
11		City of Chicago, leaving a profound impact on the affected
12		community; and
13		WHEREAS, Another incident on May 6, 2023 in South Side
14		Avalon Park resulted in the loss of Chicago police officer
15		Aréanah Preston and inflicted immeasurable pain on the
16		families and friends left to cope with the aftermath; and
17		WHEREAS, These incidents serve as heartbreaking reminders
18		of the urgent need for comprehensive approaches to gun
19		violence prevention, encompassing community-based solutions,
20		law enforcement efforts, and policy reforms; and

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1		WHEREAS, It is crucial to recognize the collective grief
2		and trauma experienced by those directly affected by these
3		incidents, as well as the enduring impact on the broader
4		Chicago community; therefore, be it
5		RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
6		ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF
7		REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we declare July 2
8		through July 8, 2023 as "Gun Violence Memorial and Prevention
9		Week" in the State of Illinois; and be it further
10		RESOLVED, That we mourn the lives lost at the hands of
11		gunfire in the City of Highland Park on July 4, 2022; and be it
12		further
13		RESOLVED, That we remember all gun violence victims in the
14		City of Chicago; and be it further
15		RESOLVED, That we especially remember the lives of
16		Katherine Goldstein, Irina McCarthy, Kevin McCarthy, Stephen
17		Straus, Jacquelyn Sundheim, Nicholas Toledo-Zaragoza, Eduardo
18		Uvaldo, and Aréanah Preston; and be it further
19		RESOLVED, That we remember all of those around the State
20		of Illinois who have been lost to gun violence; and be it
21		further

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1		RESOLVED, That we recognize the surviving family members
2		who live with the trauma of their losses; and be it further
3		RESOLVED, That we honor the City of Highland Park, the
4		City of Chicago and their law enforcement, first responders,
5		and community leaders for their service to the people of
6		Illinois; and be it further
7		RESOLVED, That we urge leaders to continue to do
8		everything in their power to ensure communities across the
9		State do not experience the trauma of gun violence, so that
10		these horrific tragedies shall not be in vain; and be it
11		further
12		RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
13		delivered to the City of Highland Park and the City of Chicago.