Bill > HR0218

This resolution recognizes Amara Harris, a student who fought against a $100 ticket issued by a school resource officer at Naperville North High School in 2019 after being accused of stealing AirPods. The resolution highlights systemic issues in Illinois schools, noting that Black students are twice as likely to receive tickets for school infractions that were traditionally handled by school administrators. Despite school administrators finding no evidence of theft, a school resource officer issued a ticket, which Harris refused to pay to protect her reputation. She spent three and a half years attending court hearings to prove her innocence, delaying her college plans at Spelman College. Ultimately, a jury found her not liable for theft in August 2023, and the fine was dismissed. The resolution commends Harris for her courage, leadership, and persistence in fighting what she believed was an unjust accusation, and it emphasizes her academic achievements, including graduating from Spelman College with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies. The document serves to recognize Harris's efforts to challenge the school-to-prison pipeline and highlight disparities in student disciplinary practices.

Education

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=218&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HR&SessionID=114&GA=104