Illinois Student Senate Resolution Against Racial Profiling

 Today at 5 p.m., The Illinois Student Senate will be voting on this resolution (Illini Union Room A). Please come and show your support!! A huge thank you to Teresa, Sam, Max, Rich Keith, Mike (of the Students Senate), ALL participating organizations like the iResist Coalition, C-U Citizens for Peace and Justice, the G.E.O., the Latina/Latino Studies Graduate Student Organization, Fellowship for Applied and Activist Research, Independent Media Center- UIUC Chapter, The Show, Letrell Crittenden- graduate advisor National Association of Black Journalism, and the iDream Coalition consisting of U.N.F.A.S., M.E.Ch.A, La Colectiva and allies.

ILLINOIS STUDENT SENATE

Senate Resolution (xx-xx-xxxx-01)

Statement for Justice and Against Racial Profiling

AUTHORS: Teresa Ramos, Sam Barghi

SUPPORTER(S): Max Ellithorpe, Rich Potter, Keith Taylor, Mike Boshardy

Whereas, the Illinois Student Senate is the “official voice of the student body” of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and as students are affected by local, state, and national issues,

Whereas, Illinois Student Senate is neither for nor against a particular set of immigration reform policies, but rather believes racial profiling is not a just or adequate response to a need for comprehensive immigration reform,

Whereas students and members of Champaign-Urbana and the University of Illinois experience racial profiling on campus and in the community, the cases of Oluwatofunmi Kaiyewu (MD student) and Kiwane Carrignton are the most recent, and research in the Ethnography of the University Initiative (EUI) shows how racial stereotyping on campus and in the community is a serious issues to students on campus, and


Whereas, racial profiling is an arbitrary and entirely subjective assessment which attempts to determine potential behavior, nationality, or legal status based on nothing more than an individual’s characteristics including, but not limited to, their phenotype, manner of dress, or use of language,


Whereas, according to a New York Times article in reference to SB1070, “The law would require the police ‘when practicable’ to detain people they reasonably suspected were in the country without authorization. It would also allow the police to charge immigrants with a state crime for not carrying immigration documents. And it allows residents to sue cities if they believe the law is not being enforced.”

Whereas, SB1070 offers no guidance on how these these law enforcement officials should determine whether a potential suspect has unlawfully entered the United States, and can be reasonably deduced that those of Hispanic or Latino decent, whether American citizens or not, can be targets of racial profiling and harassment,


Whereas previous laws like the State of Arizona’s HB 2281 further racial profiling and ethnic intolerance and impede the quality and excellence of Ethnic Studies units by not allowing faculty with “heavy accents” to teach, and this has an impact on students, faculty, and staff from many diverse ethnic populations including Latinas/os, and

Whereas, La Casa Cultural Latina and student and community organizations including La Colectiva, iDream, Latina/Latino Studies Graduate Student Organization, Fellowship for Applied and Activist Research, Independent Media Center- UIUC Chapter, The Show, Letrell Crittenden- graduate advisor National Association of Black Journalism have taken a stance against racial profiling,

Whereas, this is a historic opportunity for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to make a strong, definitive statement about racial justice,


Whereas, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign stands in solidarity with all public institutions of higher education, including those within the State of Arizona, who firmly believe in the right to access an education absent of subjection to any form of racial or ethnic prejudices, where laws like SB1070 and HB2281 threaten that access, and

Whereas, the Illinois Student Senate works toward creating a more just campus and accepts that this is not possible without simultaneously working towards a more just society, and


Therefore let it be resolved that the Illinois Student Senate urges the President and Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign to review its financial relationships with the State of Arizona and with corporations based in Arizona and cease all funding of yet to be planned travel to the State of Arizona in an attempt to put pressure on the State of Arizona to repeals laws like SB1070 that attempt to sanction racial profiling, and


Let it be further resolved, the Illinois Student Senate recommends the Governor and Legislature of the State of Illinois to review its financial relationships with the State of Arizona and with corporations based in Arizona in order to cease these financial relationships until such time that the State or Federal government repeals law like SB1070, and


Let it be further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Office of the President and Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, to the Illinois State Senate, University of Illinois Police Department, Champaign & Urbana Police Departments, and the Office of the Chancellor of the University of Illinois at Chicago, Springfield, and Urbana, and the Urbana-Champaign Senate Finance Committee, and

Let it further be resolved that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Governor of the State of Arizona and with any corporations we cease financial relationships with until the State of Arizona ends its attempts to authorize racial profiling.

I-Dream Stands in Solidarity with our Brothers and Sisters in the State of Arizona

In case final projects and research papers have you hiding under a rock these days, the I-Dream coalition just wants to share a short piece of information.

Arizona's Gov. Brewer signed SB 1070 yesterday. SB 1070 gives local police the authority to detain people whom they suspect are in the country without authorization, thus making it a state crime to not carry proper identification with you at all times and subjects people of color to questioning. Therefore, it is no surprise this bill has earned a reputation as "Juan Crow" (in remembrance of the Jim Crow state and local laws that essentially justified discrimination and segregation towards African Americans between 1876 and 1965). One only needs to take a closer look at Gov. Brewer's speech to note the underlying racism and hatred embedded in her support of this law, all in the name of equality and justice? How does that make sense, especially when they are exercising further militarization of the Arizona border? Maybe she did not get the memo back when the Sensenbrenner bill was introduced? (HR4437): NO HUMAN BEING IS ILLEGAL!

Nevertheless, OUR voices have not gone unheard. Students and youth, in particular, have been mobilizing in opposition. This past Tuesday, nine students chained themselves to the AZ state capitol building.Yesterday, approximately 2,400 high school students from all over Arizona participated in walk outs to join the thousands of people who have been protesting and rallying outside the state capitol building. Furthermore, actions are occurring all across the country! Have you heard of the Trail of Dreams? What about Chicago's coming out stories?

As you can see, the courage and bravery of youth across the country is inspiring and fueling us more and more! So, please, join us! There are several actions you can do with just the click of the mouse here!

Because ARIZONA CANNOT BE THE STANDARD! WE MUST ACT! STAND UP! BE HEARD!

Stay tuned for updates and upcoming actions!!

If you would like to help organize and make change, contact any I-Dreamer or email us at idreamillnois@illinois.edu

Coalition Meetings – Thursdays at 8:30pm at La Casa.