OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
LORI E. LIGHTFOOT
MAYOR
September 14, 2021
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
1 transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Cappleman, Sigcho-Lopez, O'Shea, Waguespack, Silverstein, Hadden, Osterman, Ramirez-Rosa, Rodriguez, Smith, Martin, Ervin, Gardiner, Reilly, Sposato, Lopez., Austin, Sadlowski Garza, Tunney, Maldonado, Curtis, Reboyras, Vasquez and Nugent, a resolution condemning violence against the Afghan people.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Afghanistan is entering a new era, as military action and occupation by the United States and its coalition partners ends after nearly 20 years; and
WHEREAS, The Taliban, a hardline Islamic fundamentalist force that lacks regard for civil and human rights, negotiated peace, and democracy, has achieved full control over the institutions and people of Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, While the U.S. and its coalition partners were present, Afghans enjoyed life without Islamic fundamentalist restrictions and celebrated many advancements, including basic human rights for women such as the right to education and to participate in the workforce; and
WHEREAS, Thousands of Afghan citizens supported the U.S. and coalition partners, standing side-by-side with our service members, diplomats, and aid workers while serving as interpreters, engineers, logistical service providers and more; and
WHEREAS, Afghan citizens who supported American and allied forces, along with their families, have been targeted by the Taliban for their support of the U.S. and coalition missions; and
WHEREAS, More than 300 Afghan interpreters are known to have been murdered by the Taliban for supporting American and allied forces; and
WHEREAS, Taliban forces will deprive Afghan women, girls, and LGBTQ individuals their essential human rights and even their lives; and
WHEREAS, Survivors of gender-based violence who sought safety in domestic violence shelters established by organizations headquartered in Illinois are at increased risk of violence and must be allowed to seek entry into the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, Individuals and their families now live in fear, including young Afghans who have no memory of life under Taliban oppression; and
WHEREAS, The United States has vetted those Afghans who supported the U.S. and coalition missions, and has an established Special Immigrant Visa program to support the evacuation and relocation of our Afghan partners; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. and its partners evacuated more than 122.000 people from Afghanistan and has secured pledges from the Taliban that anyone eligible to leave Afghanistan and resettle in the U.S. will have the right to do so; and
WHEREAS, Chicago is a Welcoming City and has been a historical haven for refugees escaping war and political violence; and
WHEREAS, Chicago has joined the ranks of cities as agents of global leadership in coalitions such as The Strong Cities Network, The U.S. Conference of Mayors, and Cities for Action; and
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago is an established home to thousands of refugees, including over 500,000 foreign born residents, and contains emergency refugee, asylum, and migrant care and resettlement services; and
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this fourteenth day of September, 2021, do hereby recognize the historic impact ofthe war in Afghanistan on our region's Armed Forces, and recognize that the sons and daughters who left Chicago to serve in Afghanistan were aided and comforted by the same Afghan people who were guaranteed the salvation of immigration to the United States in exchange for their service alongside our service members; now, therefore,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, declare that the City of Chicago raises its hand to the United States federal government to say there is a home in Chicago for the refugees and other evacuees from the war in Afghanistan; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the government of the City of Chicago stands ready to support the evacuation and resettlement of Afghan refugees and other evacuees and to coordinate that response with county, state, and federal governments in accordance with previously established and proven best practices for emergency resettlement; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the government of the City of Chicago calls upon our federal partners to expand eligibility within the Special Immigrant Visa categories to allow women fleeing domestic violence and LGBTQ+ individuals who face specific persecution under the Taliban, and other targeted individuals; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the President of the United States and to the Illinois Delegation to the United States Congress as a sign of our. dedication to and support of this important issue.
CITY OF CHICAGO
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ANNA M. VALENCIA
•Chicago City 'dmndl Co~Spt«isor 'Forni
Resolution condemning gender-based violence in Afghanistan
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