HR0781

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Reverend M. Earle Sardon has served the people of 
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the City of Chicago in ministry for 60 years; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Following valiant service in World War II as a 
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member of the U.S. Army, Reverend Sardon returned home to 
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Chicago to fight, through non-violent protests, for the rights 
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of his fellow African Americans; in 1946, he organized the 
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Civil Rights Program, published and edited the Crusader 
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newspaper, campaigned against Wonder Bread Company, and placed 
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the first African-American bread truck driver salesman; by 
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1947, all of the bread companies had African-American drivers; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, The fight went on to cover cake, pie, cookie, and 
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laundry truck drivers, whiskey and wine salesmen, and beer 
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companies; in 1949, he opened Andy Frain Co., which placed 
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black ushers at sporting events for the first time; he helped 
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to organize the black garbage truck company owners and led 
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efforts to increase their business; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The civil rights movement marched on to include a 
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campaign against Agar Meat Packers, A&P Stores, First National 
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Bank in downtown Chicago, Brinks Money Transport Company, 
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Greyhound Bus Co., El Produto Cigar Co., and ice cream 
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companies; during 1961 and 1962, Rev. Sardon joined the efforts 
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of Dr. Martin Luther King in Georgia, Washington, D.C., and 
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Chicago; throughout the years, he was arrested for his efforts 
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for civil rights; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Crusaders of Justice was organized in 1978, a 
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group which worked tirelessly to help those less fortunate; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Rev. Sardon went on to serve on the Citizens 
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Utility Board, appointed by Governor James Thompson; he helped 
 


 






HR0781
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organize and  served as chairman of the Illinois Committee of 
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Churches for Religious Freedom and traveled to every state 
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speaking and organizing for religious freedom; he also 
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organized a State financed homeless shelter and worked to 
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create and maintain a drug prevention program; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Rev. Sardon was appointed Director of Americorps'  
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VISTA program site in Chicago in 2003 under the direction of 
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the U.S. Department of Labor; he continues to serve as pastor 
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of Holiness Community Temple, President of the Crusaders of 
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Justice, and as a lecturer, counselor, and crisis mediator; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we thank Reverend M. Earle Sardon, pastor of Holiness Community 
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Temple, for his tireless devotion to civil rights and the needs 
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of others through his ministry spanning 60 years; and be it 
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further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Reverend Sardon as an expression of our respect 
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and esteem.