North Cook News

Rep. David Harris (R-Mt. Prospect) understood the intent but didn't agree with the language of a House resolution on racism, he told the chamber on Tuesday.

HJR 86, sponsored by Rep. Andre Thapedi (D-Chicago), calls on state government to strive to change the racist culture within it.

“I am not black, I have never lived in a segregated neighborhood, and I don’t know what it is like,” Harris said. “Maybe it is not right for me to stand up here and talk about this, but what troubles me about the resolution is the harshness of your words that change the culture of racism that befouls state government.”

Rep. Andre Thapedi (D-Chicago)

Thapedi said he drew up HJR86 after a workers' compensation investigator sent an email “proudly to government employees saying the most putrid and disgusting things about black people and Latino people in Chicago.”

“Despite the fact that members of the General Assembly have adopted policies against racism in the workplace and training is available, the culture of racism persists and extends beyond those subject to such polices," the resolution says.

Harris questioned the extend of such hatred in Illinois government.

“Does racism befoul state government?" Harris asked, noting that state government employs up to 50,000 people.. "Does it infect every department of government? I find that very hard to believe. There are really good, talented people that work for state government, and they are not bigots or racists, and they would not engage in those type of actions that the person in that department did.”

Acknowledging that racism is “absolutely wrong and we want to root it out,” Harris pointed out that the resolution tells legislators “to do better and work to change the culture of racism that befouls state government.”

“I have not been subject to the type of bigotry you have due to the color of your skin, and I understand that as much as I can understand that, but I am uncomfortable criticizing and accusing everyone in state government in that it befouls state government,” Harris said. “It is wrong, but the government is better, I think, than this resolution.”

Despite his objections, Harris agreed to vote for the resolution.

"I respect you, and I understand where you are coming from," he said.

HJR86 passed unanimously.