2024 -- H 7704

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LC004932

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

STRONGLY CONDEMNING ISLAMOPHOBIA

     Introduced By: Representatives Ajello, Ackerman, Tanzi, Sanchez, Felix, Potter, Cruz,
Boylan, Blazejewski, and Shekarchi

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2024

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Islamophobia is defined "as a dislike of or prejudice against Islam or

Muslims, especially as a political force" and is a growing abhorrence and important area of

concern in our State and across the country; and

     WHEREAS, Islamophobia unjustly creates fear or hatred of Muslims, to their politics or

culture, and to Islam and the religiosity of Muslims; and

     WHEREAS, Over the past decade, letters have been sent to mosques in six states

promising to "cleanse" America of Muslims. Rhode Island’s oldest mosque was threatened and

defaced with anti-Muslim graffiti, while mosques in Florida and Texas were set ablaze in cases

ruled as arson; and

     WHEREAS, Many Muslims report not feeling respected or safe, and moreover, live in

fear. In December of 2023, 20 year-old Brown University student, Hisham Awartani was

paralyzed from the chest down, when he was shot in a hate crime, along with two other students,

while visiting relatives for Thanksgiving in Burlington, Vermont. With no provocation or

warning, the shooter simply stepped off his porch and opened fired on the three innocent students;

and

      WHEREAS, Closer to home, Mustafa Ramos, "a jovial man with a giant smile", was

setting up a table before prayers outside the Islamic Center in Providence, when he was shot by a

man who had waited nearly half an hour to attack. It is believed that Mr. Ramos was a target

based solely on his faith; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island is the birthplace and was proudly formed on the belief of

guaranteed religious freedom, freedom to worship as one chooses; and

     WHEREAS, The rising tide of Islamophobia is indefensible and has no place in our lives,

our State and this World; now, therefore be it

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

condemns and denounces all forms of Islamophobia in the State of Rhode Island and the United

States, and moreover urges all our citizens to remain vigilant in protecting our Muslim-American

neighbors from all acts of hate, crime, and unlawful discrimination and persecution; and be it

further

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

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Islamic Center of Rhode Island and the

Council on American-Islamic Relations, Mustafa Ramos c/o the Islamic Center in Providence,

and Hisham Awartani c/o Brown University.

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