2022 -- S 2942

========

LC005988

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

____________

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONDEMNING THE MAY 14, 2022, MASS SHOOTING IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK

     

     Introduced By: Senators Mack, Acosta, Euer, Mendes, Calkin, Anderson, Zurier,
DiMario, Valverde, and Coyne

     Date Introduced: May 17, 2022

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

1

     WHEREAS, This Senate stands in solidarity with all Black-Americans living in Rhode

2

Island, particularly those who have suffered from unfair treatment based on their race and/or

3

ethnicity; and

4

     WHEREAS, In this spirit, the members vehemently condemn the mass shooting that

5

occurred on May 14, 2022, in Buffalo; and

6

     WHEREAS, Thirteen people were shot, ten of whom were killed on that tragic day, the

7

majority of the victims of this racially motivated terrorist attack perpetrated by a radicalized white

8

supremacist were Black; and

9

     WHEREAS, Unjust, hateful, and violent rhetoric and treatment toward Black Americans

10

have occurred across the United States at alarming rates; and

11

     WHEREAS, This rhetoric can be traced back to the early history of this nation, and

12

continued divisive language, rhetoric and imagery has been used by high-ranking politicians with

13

little forethought or prudence; and

14

     WHEREAS, This rhetoric has led to a dramatic decrease in safety and belonging in Black

15

American communities and increased harassment, discrimination and prejudice in policy,

16

healthcare, housing, and a myriad of other social structures; and

17

     WHEREAS, This treatment is antithetical to the nature of what it means to be an

18

American, and to live in a just and equitable society; and

19

     WHEREAS, This treatment, when unaddressed and allowed to fester, can lead to horrific

20

events such as the mass shooting in Buffalo; and

 

1

     WHEREAS, This is precedent to fully support and pass swift action on common sense

2

gun legislation; and

3

     WHEREAS, It is in this spirit that the events on May 14, 2022, in Buffalo are duly

4

condemned by all in this Senate; and

5

     WHEREAS, In so doing, this Senate of the State of Rhode Island recognizes that the

6

prosperity, livelihood and hope of all in our great state depends on every citizen being able to live

7

freely without fear of being ostracized, harassed, discriminated against, or killed because of their

8

race or ethnicity; now, therefore be it

9

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

10

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to all general office holders, members of the

11

Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, NAACP, Institute for the Study and Practice of Non-

12

Violence, Jewish Alliance, Center for Southeast Asians, Narragansett Tribe, Latino Policy

13

Institute, and African American Ambassadors group.

========

LC005988

========

 

LC005988 - Page 2 of 2