MPO Advocacy

Illinois Senate Adopts Pro-Macedonian Resolution

On May 20, 2005, due to efforts of members of MPO "Independence" – Chicago, the Illinois Senate passed Illinois Senate Resolution No. 05-63 thereby supporting the rights of "Macedonians living throughout the Balkans to speak their language, to attend schools and churches offered in their language, to practice their customs, to be able to call themselves Macedonians, and to be granted all civil and human rights required by international law."

Efforts to obtain the passage of a resolution supporting the rights of Macedonians and the re-establishment of the MPO's Chicago Chapter were sparked by the passage of an anti-Macedonian resolution by the Illinois Senate in 2003 at the urging of certain anti-Macedonian Greek-American organizations that declared that all Macedonians were somehow "greek."

By adopting Resolution 05-63, the Illinois Senate unambiguously expressed its support for the proposition that Macedonians should be able to enjoy the same types of freedoms and rights that we all enjoy as Americans regardless of where those Macedonians may live. This support for the principles of freedom and democracy simply carries greater weight that any resolutions that purport to "explain" the history of any people, culture or land.

Not only did the Illinois Senate express its support for the human and civil rights of Macedonians, but it also extended the Republic of Macedonia the simple courtesy of using its real name and not some insulting and ridiculous Greek invented acronym even prior to President Bush's historic decision to recognize the Republic's constitutional name.