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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROPOSED RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KRIŠJĀNIS BARONS LATVIAN SCHOOL OF CHICAGO
WHEREAS The Krišjānis Barons Latvian School of Chicago, located at 6551 W. Montrose Ave is this year celebrating its 75th anniversary. Since 1950 Latvian School of Chicago has dedicated itself to preserving the Latvian language, culture, music, history and traditions through its classes for children in kindergarten through high school; and
WHEREAS The school is named after Krišjānis Barons, a 19th Century writer known among Latvians as the “father of the daimas,” traditional Latvian folk songs and poems. More than 1.2 million folk music texts and 30,000 melodies have been identified in Latvian culture; and
WHEREAS the Republic of Latvia is a representative democracy of about 1.8 million people in northern Europe and between the Baltic Ocean on the west and Russia to the east. The Latvian people, who trace their roots back 3,000 years to Baltic tribes, have endured centuries of rule by Teutonic, Swedish, Polish-Lithuanian and Russians; and
WHEREAS in 1905, after a failed uprising against Russian rule, Latvians began moving to the United States and hundreds settled in Chicago; and
WHEREAS at the beginning of World War II, the Soviet Union forcibly annexed Latvia, murdering or deporting at least 34,250 Latvians, including administrators who were replaced with Soviet cadres. Only Soviets could run for office. In 1941, Nazi Germany invaded and occupied Latvia, killing at least 60,000 Jews. In 1944 the Soviet Union invaded and re-occupied Latvia for the next 45 years; and
WHEREAS after World War II tens of thousands of Latvian refugees in Western Europe could not return to their homeland. Many came to the United States, and hundreds joined the Latvian community in Chicago; and
WHEREAS Latvian folk songs emerged as a means for Latvia and the other Baltic nations to finally achieve independence from the Soviet Union in the “Singing Revolution” of 1987 to 1991. Latvians, Lithuanians, and Estonians held a series of mass demonstrations of people spontaneously singing traditional folk songs in defiance of Soviet rule. One famous demonstration, the Baltic Way in 1989, culminated in 2 million people lining up over 372 miles through the capitals of all three states, singing traditional folk songs; and
WHEREAS The Latvian School of Chicago brings together generations to learn about and celebrate their shared history and heritage, strengthening bonds within the Latvian-American community and building bridges in our communities; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by President Toni Preckwinkle and the Board of Commissioners of Cook County that the Board does hereby offer its sincere congratulations to the families, students and teachers of The Latvian School of Chicago, as well as the Latvian community in Chicago; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body, and a suitable copy of same be tendered to The Latvian School of Chicago so that it’s accomplishments may be so honored.
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