North Cook News

Rep. David Harris (R-Arlington Heights) continues to keep finding something good to say on the House floor.

Keeping up his weekly streak of presenting positive power points during his point of personal privilege during House floor debate  April 10, Harris used Martin Luther King Jr. as his latest example of just what is good about Illinois.

“Dr. King fought for civil rights and equal rights for all Americans, especially, of course, for African-Americans,” Harris said. “I will tell you if we all practiced what Dr. King preached, our world would be a better place.”

Illinois state Rep. David Harris (R-Arlington Heights)

Harris said despite the abolitionist fervor in Massachusetts and New York, it was worthwhile to note that the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, was born in the Prairie State.

“Illinois was the first state. on Feb. 1, 1865, ... to ratify the 13th Amendment to the Constitution,” Harris said. “And if you fast forward a hundred years to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is widely recognized that monumental piece of legislation passed in large part because of the efforts of Illinois Sen. Everett McKinley Dirksen.”