[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 888 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 888

 Expressing the hope for justice for the victims of Bloody Sunday, one 
of the most tragic of days during the Troubles, on its 50th anniversary 
   as well as acknowledging the progress made in fostering peace in 
    Northern Ireland and on the island of Ireland in recent decades.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 28, 2022

  Mr. Keating (for himself, Mr. Neal, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mr. 
    Fitzpatrick, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Malliotakis, Mr. 
     Connolly, Mr. Vargas, and Mr. Suozzi) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the hope for justice for the victims of Bloody Sunday, one 
of the most tragic of days during the Troubles, on its 50th anniversary 
   as well as acknowledging the progress made in fostering peace in 
    Northern Ireland and on the island of Ireland in recent decades.

Whereas, on January 30, 1972, 26 unarmed civilians were shot by British soldiers 
        during a protest that began peacefully in Derry, resulting in the death 
        of 14 individuals in a massacre now known as Bloody Sunday;
Whereas, as a result of the soldiers' unjustifiable use of force, the 
        individuals known as John ``Jackie'' Duddy, Patrick ``Paddy'' Doherty, 
        Bernard ``Barney'' McGuigan, Hugh Gilmour, Kevin McElhinney, Michael 
        Kelly, John Young, William Nash, Michael McDaid, James Wray, Gerald 
        Donaghy, Gerard McKinney, William McKinney, and John Johnston tragically 
        lost their lives;
Whereas Bloody Sunday represents one of the most significant and deadly 
        injustices to take place during the Troubles, and exacerbated the 
        conflict in Northern Ireland;
Whereas none of those shot by British Army soldiers posed a threat of causing 
        death or serious injury, or were doing anything else that could justify 
        their shooting;
Whereas the families of the victims of Bloody Sunday were denied for decades an 
        honest and comprehensive assessment of the events that took place on 
        Bloody Sunday;
Whereas, in 1998, after campaigns from the families of those injured and killed 
        on Bloody Sunday, a second inquiry was established by the British 
        Government;
Whereas this second Bloody Sunday Inquiry found without doubt that the shootings 
        that took place on Bloody Sunday were the result of wrongful actions 
        taken by British soldiers;
Whereas, on June 15, 2010, then-Prime Minister David Cameron while addressing 
        the House of Commons apologized on behalf of the British Government 
        saying that the events that took place on Bloody Sunday were 
        ``unjustified'', ``unjustifiable'', and ``wrong'';
Whereas despite these findings and acknowledgment made by the British 
        Government, none of the individuals involved in the unlawful use of 
        force that led to the murder of 14 innocent civilians on Bloody Sunday 
        have been held accountable;
Whereas the lack of accountability and justice provided to those who perished 
        from this unlawful use of force on Bloody Sunday is both shameful and 
        dangerous;
Whereas accountability and justice for the victims of Bloody Sunday would 
        represent one step toward addressing Northern Ireland's legacy of 
        violence and promoting reconciliation;
Whereas an environment which fosters accountability and justice for the events 
        of the Troubles must be established by British authorities and 
        subsequently maintained;
Whereas the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement with a devolved 
        government in Northern Ireland as well as healthy ``north-south'' and 
        ``east-west'' relations provide appropriate, useful, and productive 
        avenues for discussion and negotiation to prevent violence, uphold 
        peace, maintain stability, and promote the interests of all parties and 
        communities involved;
Whereas the avoidance of a hard border on the island of Ireland is essential for 
        maintaining the peace, resulting from the Good Friday Agreement;
Whereas the full implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol as agreed upon 
        as part of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union will 
        help preserve peace and stability on the island of Ireland;
Whereas in the political and societal realm, intercommunity discussion is 
        essential for maintaining peace;
Whereas it is in the interest of all parties in Northern Ireland to foster 
        intercommunity relations as well as integration in civil and societal 
        structures to promote communication and mutual understanding; and
Whereas, on January 30, 2022, peace activists, concerned individuals, and the 
        descendants of those lost to this violence will gather in Derry to 
        mourn, to stand in solidarity with victims' families in their search for 
        justice, and recommit themselves to the peace process established by the 
        Good Friday Agreement: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses support on the 50th anniversary of Bloody 
        Sunday for the 14 individuals killed and those injured on 
        Bloody Sunday;
            (2) calls on all parties to take meaningful steps toward 
        peace and reconciliation;
            (3) supports dialogue and negotiation between all parties 
        to maintain peace;
            (4) supports the full implementation of the Good Friday 
        Agreement to ensure peace and stability on the island of 
        Ireland;
            (5) recognizes the strong governmental, societal, and 
        cultural relationships between the peoples of the United 
        States, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland;
            (6) supports justice for the victims of Bloody Sunday and 
        the Troubles as well as the families of those victims;
            (7) calls upon British authorities to charge individuals 
        who committed unjustifiable crimes on Bloody Sunday;
            (8) opposes any attempt by the British Government to 
        implement amnesty or statute of limitation laws that would end 
        or inhibit investigations and prosecutions of crimes committed 
        during the Troubles, including on Bloody Sunday;
            (9) calls upon the involved parties to fully implement the 
        Northern Ireland Protocol as agreed upon in the interest of 
        maintaining peace and stability on the island of Ireland;
            (10) calls on the people of Northern Ireland to foster 
        further integration across communities and break down cultural, 
        religious, and societal barriers that remain;
            (11) supports the devolved government of Northern Ireland 
        and recognizes the devolved government as a successful outcome 
        and tenet of the Good Friday Agreement; and
            (12) urges the European Union, including the Republic of 
        Ireland, and the United Kingdom to act in good faith with 
        regard to negotiations around Brexit and implementation of the 
        Northern Ireland Protocol.
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