2019 -- S 0829

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

DENOUNCING AND OPPOSING WHITE NATIONALIST AND NEO-NAZI GROUPS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Nesselbush, Bell, Miller, Goldin, and Quezada

     Date Introduced: April 30, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

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     WHEREAS, White nationalist groups espouse an ideology of white supremacy and the

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"alleged" inferiority of non-whites. They believe that white identity should be a paramount

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principle in the governing of western nations and they support non-democratic means to bring this

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evil philosophy to the forefront; and

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     WHEREAS, The shocking and appalling events that took place on August 12, 2017, in

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Charlottesville, Virginia, on October 27, 2018, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and on April 27,

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2019, in Poway, California, confirm that white nationalism and neo-Nazism remain very real

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threats to social and racial progress; and

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     WHEREAS, Throughout the course of our nation's history, white nationalism has

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supported and promoted coercion and violent repression of individuals solely on the basis of their

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race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and immigration status; and

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     WHEREAS, Today, white nationalism has attempted to reinvent itself, self-identifying as

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the "alt-right," yet their present-day rhetoric and terrorism conjure painful memories of our

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nation's past; and

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     WHEREAS, Today, white nationalist and neo-Nazi groups often promote agendas that

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are in irreconcilable conflict with many of our nation's foundational principles of liberty and

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justice for all; and

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     WHEREAS, White nationalism and neo-Nazism are continuing to grow as menaces to

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societal order that seek to reignite social animosities, reverse improvements in race relations,

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divide the nation, and foment hatred that leads to ethnic eradication; and

 

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     WHEREAS, The white nationalists and neo-Nazi message of racial, ethnic, and social

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intolerance has led to senseless acts of violence that continue to terrorize members of racial and

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religious minority communities; and

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams on the principle of religious

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tolerance; and

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island is the home to America's oldest synagogue, the Touro

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Synagogue, in Newport; now therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby strongly denounces and opposes the totalitarian impulses, violent terrorism, xenophobic

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biases, and bigoted ideologies that are promoted by white nationalists and neo-Nazis; and be it

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further

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

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of

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the United States, the members of the Rhode Island Congressional delegation, and the Honorable

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Gina M. Raimondo, Governor of the State of Rhode Island.

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