2022 -- H 7025

========

LC003757

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

____________

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

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

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

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

ideals, and a constitutional form of government; and

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

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

authoritarian leaders; and

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

States on November 3, 2020; and

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

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

into changing election results and disenfranchising voters; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

way into the U.S. Capitol; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Capitol Police to bring about peace and safety; and

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

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

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

7th; and

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

injuries sustained while on duty defending our democracy; and

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

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

     WHEREAS, Washington Metropolitan Police Department Officer Jeffrey Smith lost his

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

     WHEREAS, Washington Metropolitan Police Department Officer Kyle DeFreytag lost

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

     WHEREAS, Washington Metropolitan Police Department Officer Gunther Hashida lost

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

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

Capitol; and

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

breach the U.S. Capitol; and

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

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

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

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

and undermine faith in our democratic institutions; and

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

LC003757 - Page 2 of 3

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

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

the United States; now, therefore be it

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

be it further

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

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

political violence; and be it further

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

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

========

LC003757

========

LC003757 - Page 3 of 3