SPRINGFIELD – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed House Bill (HB) 312 into
law, expanding Holocaust and genocide education for Illinois elementary and high school
students. In addition to learning about the Nazi atrocities of the 20th century, students
will now learn about more recent acts of genocide around the world, including those in
Armenia, Ukraine, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Sudan. In June, the governor signed
legislation making Illinois the first state in the nation to end state investment in Sudan,
cutting all state financial ties with the oppressive and genocidal Sudanese government.
“As we teach our kids the important lessons of history, we have to be sure that they
understand that racial, national, ethnic and religious hatred can lead to horrible
tragedies,” said Gov. Blagojevich. “Sadly, these are not just the problems of our parents’
or grandparents’ generations. We have to make sure our schools teach the importance of
embracing differences among people and encourage students to fight intolerance and
hatred wherever they see it.”
Sponsored by Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) and Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago),
HB 312 expands the previous requirement for Illinois public elementary schools and high
schools to teach a unit on genocide focused on the events of the Nazi Holocaust of 1933
to 1945. The new unit of instruction required by HB 312 will include, but is not limited
to: the Armenian Genocide; the Famine-Genocide in Ukraine; and more recent atrocities
in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Sudan.
“In light of the culturally diverse population in Illinois and our increasingly global
society, we must ensure that the tragedy of the Holocaust is not painted with an isolated
brush,” stated the bill’s chief sponsor, Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago). “In order to fully
comprehend the inhumanity of genocide, students need to be able to understand the
indifference that has allowed it to repeatedly occur around the world through history and
up to today.”
The law states that the State Board of Education may make available to Illinois schools
instructional materials for the development of this unit of instruction. Each local school
district will set the specifics of the instruction for each grade level in its schools.
“By studying these tragic lessons from history, we can help our children understand the
importance of freedom,” said Sen. Collins. “When they recognize that crimes of genocide
continue in some corners of the world, even in the 21st century, it will raise their
awareness and help them understand what can happen when you judge people by their
race, their homeland or their beliefs.”
“We applaud Governor Blagojevich for breaking new ground by signing into law this
important educational initiative, a measure which comes fifteen years after the landmark
Illinois Holocaust Education Mandate was first enacted,” said Richard S. Hirschhaut,
Project and Executive Director of the new Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education
Center. “The new law affirms the continuing relevance of applying the universal lessons
of the Holocaust to the tragedies of genocide in our world today. We look forward to
bringing these important lessons to future generations through the facilities of the new
Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center.”
In June, the governor signed Senate Bill 23, making Illinois the first state in the nation to
cut all state financial ties with the oppressive and genocidal Sudanese government. The
bill, sponsored by Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago) and Rep Lovana Jones (DChicago),
prohibits Illinois from investing in foreign government bonds of Sudan,
investing in companies doing business in or with Sudan, and investing the State pension
in companies doing business in or with Sudan.
HB 312 goes into effect immediately.
