SR-77, As Adopted by Senate, June 21, 2007

            Senators Hunter, Clarke, Brater, Jacobs, Scott, Clark-Coleman, Anderson, Basham, Barcia, Olshove, Cherry, Prusi, Gleason, Whitmer, Gilbert, Brown and Pappageorge offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 77.

            A resolution to commemorate June 23, 2007, as the 25th Anniversary of the death of Vincent Chin.

            Whereas, On June 19, 1982, Vincent Chin, an American of Chinese descent, was mistakenly identified as being of Japanese heritage and was brutally and maliciously beaten; and

            Whereas, On June 23, 1982, Vincent Chin died as a result of this brutal and malicious bias-motivated hate crime; and

            Whereas, The unnecessary and tragic murder of Vincent Chin and the controversy surrounding the sentencing of his assailants thereafter drew national and international attention and outrage; and

            Whereas, This brought the Asian American community together with other minority groups, advocating against discrimination and bias-motivated hate crimes; and

            Whereas, In 1988, the state of Michigan enacted the ethnic intimidation act to prevent similar crimes against innocent persons from occurring; and

            Whereas, The state of Michigan is committed to upholding and protecting the rights of all of its citizens; and

            Whereas, The state of Michigan acknowledges the family and friends of Vincent Chin; and

            Whereas, The state of Michigan recognizes June 23, 2007, as the 25th Anniversary of the death of Vincent Chin; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we hereby offer our words of sympathy and praise as a memorial for Vincent Chin, a young man whose life and death had a profound impact within our community.