Written by Collins Staff Thursday, 25 March 2010 14:20
Senate designates "Ryan Harris: Hope for Children Week" in honor of fallen student
The resolution, sponsored by State Sen. Jacqueline Collins, was named in honor of slain student Ryan Harris, an 11 year-old, who was sexually assaulted and killed by Floyd Durr in the summer of 1998. Originally, the Chicago Police Department charged two boys, ages 7 and 8, with the crimes. In April of 1999, Durr pled guilty to the rape and murder of 11 year-old Ryan Harris. Durr is currently serving a life sentence plus 30 years for his crimes against Harris and 125 years for the other sexual assault convictions. That summer Ryan went on a bike ride in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago. Ryan was abducted and taken into a nearby public lot where she was brutally beaten and assaulted by a known sexual predator. Since that time Ryan’s mother, Sabrina, has held an annual picnic for children in that park, which has been cleaned up and named for her daughter. "Illinois has the highest youth violence and homicide rate in the Midwest and the 4th highest in the United States. These numbers have only increased since Ryan was killed and the physical, mental and emotional effects of the community in which they live can be incredibly damaging," Collins said.
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Senate came together to pass legislation establishing "Ryan Harris: Hope for Children Week" from July 26th to August 1st to raise awareness of youth violence.
16th District
Years served: 2003 - Present
Committee assignments: Committee of the Whole; Financial Institutions (Chairperson); Insurance (Vice-Chairperson); Appropriations I; Pensions and Investments; Environment; Subcommittee on Amendments; Subcomm.on Pension Enhancements; Subcommittee on Payday Loans.
Biography: Full-time state legislator. Born December 10th in McComb, Mississippi. Studied journalism at Northwestern University; MA from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government; MA in Human Services Administration from Spertus College; MA in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School, June 2003. Former Emmy Award-nominated news editor at CBS-TV in Chicago, and 2001 Legislative Fellow with United States Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.