MARQUETTE PARK MARCH 60TH

104th Regular Session Introduced by Carol Ammons and 22 co-sponsors

Commends the 1966 Marquette Park March and reaffirms Illinois’s ongoing commitment to fair housing and economic justice for all residents.

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Maurice A. West, II

Overview

HR 679 (104th General Assembly, Illinois) commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Marquette Park March of 1966, a landmark event in the Chicago Freedom Movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Albert Raby. The resolution honors Dr. King, Albert Raby, and the broader civil rights efforts surrounding open housing and economic justice. It reaffirms commitment to continuing the fight for fair housing and economic justice for all Illinois residents.

Main Purpose and Intent

To formally commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Marquette Park March (August 5, 1966) in Chicago.

To honor the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Albert Raby in advancing civil rights, fair housing, and the Chicago Freedom Movement.

To reaffirm a statewide commitment to ongoing efforts toward fair housing and economic justice in Illinois.

Key Provisions and Changes

Recognition and commemoration of the Marquette Park March and its historical significance within the civil rights movement.

Acknowledgment of the involvement of the Coordinating Council of Community Organizations (CCCO) and the role of the Chicago Freedom Movement in expanding civil rights organizations’ activities to northern cities.

Reiteration of the impact of the 1966 events on the broader push for open housing and Fair Housing Act considerations.

A formal declaration of continued dedication to fair housing practices and economic justice for all Illinoisans.

Who/What Would Be Affected

The Illinois General Assembly and the residents of Illinois, particularly communities in Chicago and those affected by housing discrimination and economic disparities.

No new statutory obligations or funding are introduced; the measure functions as a commemorative resolution and a policy statement.

Dr. King, Albert Raby, and the historical memory of the Chicago Freedom Movement are honored in state records.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

The bill is a House Resolution (no substantive fiscal or regulatory changes proposed).

Sponsored by Rep. Lisa Davis, with co-sponsors Rep. Mike Crawford and Rep. Michael Crawford (chief co-sponsor listed as relevant in action history).

Action history indicates standard legislative progression:

Filed with the Clerk (Feb 18, 2026)
Referred to Rules Committee (Feb 19, 2026)
Assigned to State Government Administration Committee (Feb 23, 2026)
Reported out of Committee with recommendation to Adopt (May 6, 2026)

The resolution commemorates a historical date (August 5, 1966) and ties it to ongoing commitments rather than establishing new programs or deadlines.