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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONDEMNING THE ACTS OF VIOLENCE ON THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE

INSURRECTION COMMITTED AT THE SEAT OF OUR COUNTRY'S DEMOCRACY, AND

EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES FOR ALL OF THE LIVES LOST

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Potter, Blazejewski, Morales, Caldwell, Cortvriend,
Carson, Speakman, Donovan, Ajello, and Shallcross Smith

     Date Introduced: January 10, 2022

     Referred To: House Judiciary

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

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

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

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ideals, and a constitutional form of government; and

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

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

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authoritarian leaders; and

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     WHEREAS, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. was lawfully elected President of the United

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States on November 3, 2020; and

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     WHEREAS, After losing the election on November 3, 2020, former President Donald J.

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Trump misled his supporters about the results of the election and tried to coerce election officials

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into changing election results and disenfranchising voters; and

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

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

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where the Joint Session of Congress was meeting to certify the electoral votes from all 50 states

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

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

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

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

 

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way into the U.S. Capitol; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Capitol Police to bring about peace and safety; and

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

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

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

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7th; and

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     WHEREAS, United States Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick lost his life due to

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injuries sustained while on duty defending our democracy; and

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     WHEREAS, United States Capitol Police Officer Howard Liebengood lost his life to

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suicide three days after sustaining injuries while on duty defending our democracy; and

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     WHEREAS, Washington Metropolitan Police Department Officer Jeffrey Smith lost his

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life to suicide nine days after sustaining injuries while on duty defending our democracy; and

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     WHEREAS, Washington Metropolitan Police Department Officer Kyle DeFreytag lost

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his life to suicide six months after responding to the Capitol attack to defend our democracy; and

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     WHEREAS, Washington Metropolitan Police Department Officer Gunther Hashida lost

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his life to suicide six months after responding to the Capitol attack to defend our democracy; and

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     WHEREAS, Ashli Babbitt lost her life due to injuries sustained while breaching the U.S.

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Capitol; and

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     WHEREAS, Rosann Boyland lost her life due to injuries sustained while attempting to

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breach the U.S. Capitol; and

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     WHEREAS, Benjamin Philips lost his life while present at the U.S. Capitol; and

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     WHEREAS, Kevin Greeson lost his life while present at the U.S. Capitol; and

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     WHEREAS, Despite these tragic consequences, former President Donald Trump and his

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enablers have continued to falsely allege widespread voter fraud, promote conspiracy theories,

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and undermine faith in our democratic institutions; and

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     WHEREAS, As we mark the one year anniversary of the deadly insurrectionist attack,

 

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elected officials and civil servants have increasingly faced threats of violence; and

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     WHEREAS, All elected officials swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution of

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the United States; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives hereby mourns all of the lives lost; and

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be it further

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives hereby continues to be committed to

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defend the Constitution of the United States, protect our democracy, and condemn all acts of

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political violence; and be it further

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

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

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