House Minority Caucus: Formal Condolences To The People Of Israel Derailed By Democratic Leadership

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State House, Providence – During the first week of session since the horrific October 7 attacks by Hamas, a large bipartisan group of legislators presented a Resolution of Condolences for immediate consideration by House membership.  This would normally have been a routine request, as the House frequently expresses condolences to victims of terror or other atrocities or events.  Unfortunately, the Democratic leadership declined to follow customary procedure forcing the resolution to go to committee where there is no guarantee it will ever see the light of day.  Resolution sponsor Rep. Brian C. Newberry and House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale commented:

“It is unfortunate the Democratic leadership is so concerned about backlash from the pro-Hamas wing of the party that they cannot even bring themselves to allow a vote on a bipartisan pro forma resolution condemning mass murder and rape of innocent civilians sponsored by nearly 2/3 of House members from all ends of the political spectrum,” said Representative Brian C. Newberry. “The Democratic Party is being taken over in real time by radical leftists who glorify violence and the mainstream party leaders are too timid to stand up to it.  Their excuse was that the resolution was ‘controversial’.  I defy anyone to read it and tell me how it is ‘controversial’ to condemn rape, torture and murder by an officially designated terrorist organization directed at a close ally and denounced by President Biden.”

"It’s a fundamental duty of political leadership to confront and challenge those within our own ranks who openly and continually endorse crimes against humanity,” said Leader Michael Chippendale. “The silence or passive acceptance in the face of such horror, particularly in relation to the ongoing calls for Jewish genocide, is not just a failure of policy, but a moral failure. We must stand firmly against any form of support for such atrocities, regardless of political affiliation, and we must let the Israeli people know that the good people of Rhode Island support them in these trying times."

Co-signers of this resolution include Rhode Island House Representatives:  Brian C. Newberry (48), Mia Ackerman (45), Thomas E. Noret (25), Michael Chippendale (40), Alex S. Finkleman (74),  Jacquelyn M. Baginski, (17), Joseph Solomon (22), Barbara Ann Fenton Fung (15), Ramon A. Perez (13), Samuel A, Azzinaro (37), Raymond A. Hull (6), Camille Villa-Wilkinson (21), Edward T. Cardillo, Jr. (42), Robert E. Craven, Sr. (32), David J. Place (47), Brian Rea (53), Jason Knight (67), George A. Nardone (28), Stephen M. Casey (50), Julie A. Casimiro (31), Katherine S. Kazarian (63), Jennifer Boylan (66), William W. O’Brien (54), Lauren H. Carson (75), Megan L. Cotter (39), Jon D. Brien (49), Robert D. Phillips (51), Carol Hagan McEntee (33), Patricia Serpa (27), Deborah A. Fellela (43), Joseph M. McNamara (19), Gregory J. Costantino (44), Evan P. Shanley (24), Charlene Lima (14), Matthew S. Dawson (65), David A. Bennett (20), Susan R. Donovan (69), Marvin L. Abney (73), Justine Caldwell (30), Joshua J. Giraldo (56), Brandon Voas (57), Arthur Handy (18), Mary Messier (62), Kathleen Fogarty (35), Terri Cortvriend (72), Sherry Roberts (29), Nathan Biah (3), John G. Edwards (70), Alex Marszalkowski (52)                                                          

• Signatures
• Resolution
• Examples of Similar Resolutions

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2023 – H 5031
Resolution 017
BY  Ackerman, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Kazarian, Kislak, Finkelman, Boylan, Knight, McNamara, Slater
ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING ALL RHODE ISLANDERS TO JOIN TOGETHER IN STRONGLY CONDEMNING ANY AND ALL FORMS OF ANTISEMITISM
{LC188/1}

2023- H 6158
Resolution 175
BY  Kennedy, Craven, McNamara, Casey, Edwards, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, McEntee, O'Brien, Chippendale
ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION CELEBRATING ST. PATRICK’S DAY AND THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT
{LC2498/1}

2023 – H 6282
Resolution 243
BY  Kazarian, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Corvese, Chippendale, Solomon, Potter, Baginski, Edwards, Fellela
ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL 24, 2023, AS "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY" TO COMMEMORATE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 TO 1923, AND IN HONOR OF ARMENIAN-AMERICANS
*** Until 2021, the State of Rhode Island took a position in these resolutions, that was entirely correct and appropriate, but inherently controversial given that they did not reflect the official foreign policy of the United States, at the time.

2015 – S 0005
Resolution 12
BY  Sheehan, Cote, Picard, Archambault, Ottiano
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SUPPORT AND UNITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF FRANCE AND EXTENDING PROFOUND SYMPATHIES TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO DIED IN THE TRAGIC TERRORISTS ATTACKS IN PARIS, FRANCE
{LC499/1}

2023 – H 6322
Resolution 269
BY  Kennedy, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Edwards, McNamara, Diaz, Kazarian, Chippendale, Fenton-Fung, Azzinaro
ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND TAIWAN, WHILE SUPPORTING ENHANCED BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN AND TAIWAN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
{LC2811/1}

2023 – S 1027
Resolution 330
BY  Raptakis, Tikoian, Gallo, F. Lombardi, Kallman, Euer, Valverde, de la Cruz, Ujifusa, Britto
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MAY 19TH OF 2023 AS "GREEK PONTIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
{LC2955/1}

2022 – S 2942
Resolution 308
BY  Mack, Acosta, Euer, Mendes, Calkin, K. Anderson, Zurier, DiMario, Valverde, Coyne
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE MAY 14, 2022, MASS SHOOTING IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK     

2021 – S 0008
Resolution 001
BY  Euer, Kallman, Ruggerio, McCaffrey, Goodwin, Miller, Felag, Coyne, Burke, Cano
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND INSURRECTION COMMITTED AT THE SEAT OF OUR COUNTRY'S DEMOCRACY AND CALLING FOR THE REMOVAL OF PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

2021 – S 0698
Resolution 136
BY  Cano, Murray, Quezada, Kallman, Miller, Mack, DiMario, Mendes
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE SURGING VIOLENCE, XENOPHOBIA, AND INTOLERANCE AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS
{LC2519/1}

2021 – H 6185
Resolution 153
BY  Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Fenton-Fung, Ackerman, Felix, Caldwell, Filippi, McEntee, Morales, Kazarian
ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE SURGING VIOLENCE AND INTOLERANCE AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS
{LC2548/1}

2015 – H 5745
Resolution 95
BY  Ackerman, Regunberg, Amore, Shekarchi, McNamara
ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION STRONGLY CONDEMNING HATE CRIMES AND RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY
{LC1819/1}

2015 – H 6327
Resolution 403
BY  Almeida, Williams, Regunberg, Abney, Maldonado
ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING PROFOUND SYMPATHIES ON THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF JUNE 17, 2015, IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
{LC2917/1}

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