Bill > SR0290

This resolution recognizes Reginald Edwin Petty, a prominent civil rights advocate from East St. Louis, for his extensive lifetime of service and activism. A graduate of Southern Illinois University with degrees in sociology and education, Petty was a key member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in the 1960s, where he was arrested over 30 times while working to register Black voters in the Deep South. He later joined the Peace Corps, becoming one of its first African American country directors, serving in multiple African nations and helping establish sustainable development and cross-cultural understanding. Petty has held numerous U.S. Presidential appointments, including leadership roles with the National Advisory Council on Vocational Education and the African Development Foundation, and has continued his advocacy work through educational efforts, historical preservation, and community engagement. The resolution highlights his ongoing commitment to social justice, including his participation in a 2020 Black Lives Matter rally and his work with the East St. Louis Historical Society. It celebrates Petty's legacy of "relentless service, intellectual excellence, and transformational leadership" and officially recognizes his significant contributions to civil rights and community development.

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=290&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SR&SessionID=114&GA=104