Whereas, since 1787, the only African Americans to serve in the United States Senate have been Hiram Revels, Blanche K. Bruce, Edward W. Brooke, Carol Moseley Braun and Barack Obama; and Whereas, the citizens of the State of Illinois in their wisdom have the distinction of electing the last two African-Americans to serve in the U.S. Senate; and Whereas, on Tuesday, November 4, 2008, millions of Americans across this country made history by electing Senator Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America; and Whereas, today out of ninety-nine senators, and with the resignation of Pres-Elect Obama NO African Americans now serve; therefore We, the undersigned residents of the State of Illinois, being at least 18 years of age, strongly urge the Governor of Illinois to choose an African-American to fill the vacancy in the United States Senate seat created by the resignation of President-Elect Barack Obama.

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