RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the United States is a nation founded by immigrants, many seeking freedom from religious persecution;
WHEREAS, the United States has enshrined freedom of religion as one of our nation's most fundamental legal and ethical principles; and
WHEREAS, more than seven million Arab and Muslim Americans live in the United States and over 400,000 live in the greater Chicago area and make invaluable contributions to our economic, social and political life and culture; and
WHEREAS, Arab and Muslims Americans have contributed greatly to building this nation, including:
Colonel James Jabara, the "First Jet Ace" in the Korean War;
Four Star General George Joulwan, former Commander of NATO;
Michael Monsour, a Navy Seal who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President George W. Bush for his military service in Iraq;
Captain Humayun Khan, posthumously awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for saving the lives of hundreds of soldiers in Iraq. Capt. Khan's father eulogized his son at the 2016 Democratic National Convention last summer;
Christa McAuliffe, the "first school teacher in space," who perished on the space shuttle "Challenger";
Consumer advocate Ralph Nader;
Former United States Senators: Spencer Abraham, George Mitchell (majority leader), James Abdnor, James Abourezk, John Sinunu, and
former Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood of Illinois.
Congressmen: Keith Ellison, Andre Carson, Darrell Issa, and Darin LaHood of Illinois.
Candy Lightner, the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving;
Dr. Michael DeBakey, the Houston heart surgeon who perfected the artificial heart;
Farouk El Baz, the NASA scientist who trained lunar astronauts;
Nobel Prize winners Ahmed Zewail (Physics) and Elias Corey
(Chemistry);
• Danny Thomas, who founded St. Jude Children Research Hospital
with the help of Cardinal Samuel Stritch and other Chicagoans. St. Jude's has reversed the mortality rate of Childhood Leukemia from 95% to 5%;
WHEREAS, after the murde...
Click here for full text