Bill Text: IL HR0972 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of E. Duke McNeil of Chicago.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2010-03-02 - Resolution Adopted [HR0972 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-HR0972-Introduced.html

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HR0972 LRB096 21433 GRL 37817 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of E. Duke
McNeil of Chicago, who passed away on February 21, 2010; and
WHEREAS, E. Duke McNeil was born and raised in Memphis,
Tennessee; he then moved to Chicago and attended the DePaul
School of Law; and
WHEREAS, E. Duke McNeil was motivated to earn his law
degree after watching the activism of Thurgood Marshall; in
1974, he made history in Chicago by becoming the first black
man to launch a campaign for the mayor's office; his candidacy
helped lay the groundwork for Chicago's first black mayor,
Harold Washington; Mr. McNeil defended the Black Panthers in
the 1970s and represented hundreds of criminal defendants
throughout his professional career; he also provided his legal
services to people who could not afford a lawyer and recruited
others to do the same; and
WHEREAS, E. Duke McNeil was a founding member of the
Rainbow PUSH Coalition; he walked with the Rev. Martin Luther
King Jr. in the fight for open housing and worked for quality
education for children; he also served as host of the Rainbow
PUSH Coalition's weekly forum for more than 20 years; and

HR0972 - 2 - LRB096 21433 GRL 37817 r
WHEREAS, E. Duke McNeil is survived by his wife, Carrie;
his daughters, J. Rita McNeil-Danish and Rita; and his son,
Stephen; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of E.
Duke McNeil; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of E. Duke McNeil as an expression of
our sympathy.