2021 -- H 5005

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONDEMNING THE ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND INSURRECTION COMMITTED AT THE

SEAT OF OUR COUNTRY'S DEMOCRACY AND CALLING FOR THE REMOVAL OF

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

     Introduced By: Representative Brandon C. Potter

     Date Introduced: January 12, 2021

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     WHEREAS, The peaceful transition of power is a hallmark of the United States as a

democratic republic – signaling the government’s responsibility to respect the will of the people

and providing legitimacy to our elections; uniting us as a people behind our country, our shared

ideals, and a constitutional form of government; and

     WHEREAS, It is the belief of Americans that the leadership of our government should be

selected by the people through free and fair elections, not through violence or the whims of

authoritarians leaders; and

     WHEREAS, Since losing the election on November 3, 2020, President Donald J. Trump

has continued to lie and mislead his supporters about the results of the election and has tried to

coerce election officials into changing election results and disenfranchising voters; and

     WHEREAS, On Wednesday, January 6, 2021, President Trump held a rally in

Washington D.C. calling on his supporters to “fight like hell” and march to the U.S. Capitol

Building where the Joint Session of Congress was meeting to certify the electoral votes from all

50 states and the District of Columbia in order to confirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory; and

     WHEREAS, Incited by outright lies and misinformation, and driven by the

misconception that their actions could encumber the true and just democratic process, the deadly

mob assaulted police officers, scaled walls, and broke windows and doors as they forced their

way into the U.S. Capitol building; and

     WHEREAS, Americans watched with disappointment, disbelief, and horror as hundreds

of insurrectionists stormed the building intent on wreaking havoc and stopping the progress

towards a peaceful transition of power. Insurgents brought with them zip-ties, raided key offices,

and stole important documents and electronics. A crowd of rioters chanted “Hang Mike Pence”

and a noose was erected outside the Capitol. Reports surfaced of guns, tear gas, assaults on

Capitol Police, and vandalism inside the historic building and revered rotunda; and

     WHEREAS, Legislators were quickly evacuated from the House and Senate Chambers as

the mob wandered the hallways, defacing offices and public property, and resisting attempts by

Capitol Police to bring about peace and safety, resulting in the death of at least six people; and

     WHEREAS, Showing the resilience of our country, the Joint Session of Congress

reconvened on the evening of January 6th to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s electoral victory

and worked through the night until they completed the certification early the morning of January

7th; and

     WHEREAS, Even after the events of January 6th, President Trump has continued to

spread lies and misinformation to his supporters, threatening the security of the United States and

undermining the integrity of our most cherished institutions, and continuing to serve as a threat to

our country so long as he holds office; and

     WHEREAS, The strength of America’s democracy is in our ability to come together

during times of strife and peril. The day of calculated destruction will not change our destiny or

our confidence that there are brighter days ahead. On January 20th, 2021, a new era of hope and

unity will begin to rebuild our country with the consensus and trust that our forefathers imagined

as they wrote the Constitution and laid the foundation for the greatest country in the world; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

vehemently condemns the acts of violence and insurrection committed at the seat of our country's

democracy and calls on the removal of President Donald J. Trump through the exercise of the

25th Amendment or Congressional impeachment; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Rhode Island's Congressional Delegation.

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