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Senate Bill 673 aims to help victims of bullying that are based
on religion, race, ethnicity, or any other category that is
identified in the Illinois Human Rights Act, instead of
suspending students for bullying, school counselors and trained
mediators would help guide the bully and the victim to find
common ground.
Civil rights attorney and the author of the bill, Maaria
Mozaffar, said this legislation finally gives students a chance
to address their bullies in a non-confrontational manner.
"Think about all the students that have gone through bullying
and how it scarred them because they did not know how to address
it," Mozaffar said. "This legislation gives those students a
chance to deal with their problems."
Mozaffar discussed how must bullying comes from students lacking
understanding and dealing with others who have different
cultural backgrounds, this bill helps those students understand
those differences.
"This really is a pathway for students to better understand the
different cultures, people, and communities around them, and be
reminded of basic decent moral conduct," Mozaffar said.
The legislation is the first of its kind in the United States,
but Mozaffar said that does not mean Illinois' work is done.
“Diversity is humanity’s greatest asset. I will continue to push
for more inclusive conversations and find ways to push back
against policies not equipped to embrace these diversities,”
Mozaffar said.
The law goes into effect immediately.
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