2019 -- H 5927

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LC002262

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONDEMNING THE HATEFUL DEFACING OF GRAVESTONES AT THE HEBREW

CEMETERY IN FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Knight, Kislak, Ackerman, Filippi, and Shekarchi

     Date Introduced: March 28, 2019

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, In the 1950s and 1960s, Fall River had a strong, vibrant, and visible Jewish

community connected to the textile industry; and

     WHEREAS, As loved ones passed, many were interred at the 300-plot Hebrew cemetery

on McMahon Street in Fall River; and

     WHEREAS, Overnight, on Saturday March 16th into Sunday, March 17th, 2019, 59

gravestones at the Hebrew cemetery were defaced with vicious and cruel anti-Semitic language

and swastikas, and others were brutally toppled; and

     WHEREAS, This anti-Semitic malevolent attack was not only an affront on the

memories of the families of those buried at the cemetery, but was a hate crime perpetrated against

all Jewish people, and an assault to humanity; and

     WHEREAS, Anti-Semitism in any form breeds violence and is eminently sad,

disrespectful, and unconditionally condemnable; now, therefore be it

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

Providence Plantations hereby honors the memory of those at the Hebrew Cemetery and stands

united in rejecting and condemning these vile and intolerable acts of anti-Semitism and hatred;

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 Jeffrey Weissmann, President of Congregation

Adas Israel, Stephen Silverman, President of Temple Beth El, and Robert Trestan, Director of the

Anti-Defamation League of New England.

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LC002262

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