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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COOK COUNTY UNITY
WHEREAS, the diversity of our population represents perhaps our greatest asset as a County; and
WHEREAS, racism, xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, disability discrimination, and all other forms of hate have no place in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, the national political climate has produced fear and anxiety among many Cook County residents, particularly among people of color, immigrants, Muslims, Jews, and members of the LGBTQ community; and
WHEREAS, in the ten days following the November 8, 2016 election, there were 867 documented incidents of hate-based violence and harassment, principally directed at people of color, immigrants, Muslims, Jews, and members of the LGBTQ community; and
WHEREAS, calls to mental health hot lines increased by 200% in Illinois post-election; and
WHEREAS, health care providers and mental health experts have reported that youth of color, refugee and immigrant youth, and LGBTQ and gender non-conforming youth are experiencing significant distress as a result of the national discourse; and
WHEREAS, resolution 07-R-240 declared Cook County a Fair and Equal County for Immigrants ensuring equal access to essential benefits and opportunities; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we will continue to honor and protect the rights of all residents, regardless of race, ethnicity, country of origin, religion, age, immigration status, criminal record, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we reaffirm our commitment to being a Fair and Equal County for all immigrants, refugees, and their families; and will oppose any efforts that conflict with those values or reverse critical protections to immigrants, refugees, and their families; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we will never waver on our commitment to ensuring women's rights in healthcare, in the workplace, in the home, and in the streets; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we remain deeply committed to religious freedom, and oppose any discriminatory treatment or persecution on the basis of faith; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we honor the rights of all individuals within the LGBTQ community to live without fear of discrimination or harassment; and we will support all of the progress we have made as a society in advancing LGBTQ rights; and
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, we will continue our commitment to address the over-incarceration of Black and Brown communities and reducing the number of individuals in the criminal justice, juvenile justice, and immigrant detention systems, while reinvesting the resulting savings to address acute education, healthcare, employment, housing, minority-owned small business development and environmental needs in the most affected communities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, we will continue to promote law enforcement practices focused on collaborating with communities to improve public safety without violating residents’ civil and human rights; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we will continue to stand up for the needs of Cook County’s low-income and working families; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we are committed to addressing the effects of environmental degradation and climate change, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we will oppose any efforts that compromise the safety or well-being of Cook County residents; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we call on all Cook County residents to stand united in defense of our common values and each other’s civil and human rights so that we can protect and expand upon that which makes this County great.
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