[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 96 (Tuesday, June 6, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H4628-H4632]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONDEMNING VIOLENCE AGAINST PEACEFUL PROTESTERS OUTSIDE THE TURKISH
AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 354) condemning the violence against
peaceful protesters outside the Turkish Ambassador's residence on May
16, 2017, and calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and
measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 354
Whereas, on May 16, 2017, President Donald J. Trump hosted
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, a longstanding NATO
ally, for an official meeting at the White House to discuss
counterterrorism cooperation and bilateral issues;
Whereas, on the evening of May 16, 2017, over two dozen
protesters gathered outside of the Turkish Ambassador's
residence in Washington, DC, to demonstrate opposition to
Turkish government policies;
Whereas after hours of peaceful protest, violence erupted
when pro-Erdogan supporters and individuals from the Turkish
Embassy grounds pushed past District of Columbia police
officers to brutally attack the demonstrators;
Whereas those Turkish officials blatantly suppressed the
First Amendment rights of United States citizens, and
multiple armed Turkish security officials beat, kicked, and
choked unarmed demonstrators;
Whereas multiple video recordings of the violence and
reports by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District
of Columbia and the Department of State confirm that the
demonstrators did not instigate the violence;
Whereas at least 11 individuals were seriously injured in
the ensuing brawl, with two individuals requiring immediate
hospitalization;
Whereas separately, two armed Turkish security officers
attached to a security detail were detained for physically
assaulting Federal agents;
Whereas those two Turkish security officers were later
released and subsequently allowed to leave the United States
because they held Derived Head of State immunity;
Whereas the Department of State did not request that Turkey
waive the immunity for these two security officers in order
to fully investigate the assault prior to their being
released from custody;
Whereas a joint criminal investigation into the incident is
ongoing with the combined efforts of the Washington
Metropolitan Police Department, the United States Secret
Service, and the Department of State Diplomatic Security
Service;
Whereas at no point was President Erdogan in danger;
Whereas immunity for diplomatic personnel and certain other
foreign officials is a core principle, as is the right to
protest peacefully and freely in the United States;
Whereas this is the third instance of violence perpetrated
by members of Turkish President Erdogan's security detail in
United States territory;
Whereas in 2011, a brawl erupted in the halls of the United
Nations General Assembly between members of Turkish President
Erdogan's security detail and United Nations security
officers, resulting in one United Nations security officer
being hospitalized due to serious injuries;
Whereas in 2016, members of Turkish President Erdogan's
security detail engaged in unwarranted violence against
journalists reporting on an event at the Brookings
Institution;
Whereas Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on May 21,
2017, that the violence outside the Turkish Embassy was
``outrageous'' and ``simply unacceptable''; and
Whereas the right to assembly, peaceful protest, and
freedom of speech are essential and protected rights in the
United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of
Representatives that--
(1) the rights to peacefully assemble and freely express
one's views are essential to the fabric of American
democracy;
(2) the Turkish security forces acted in an unprofessional
and brutal manner, reflecting poorly on President Erdogan and
the Government of Turkey;
(3) any Turkish security officials who directed, oversaw,
or participated in efforts by Turkish security forces to
illegally suppress peaceful protests on May 16, 2017, should
be
[[Page H4629]]
charged and prosecuted under United States law;
(4) the United States Secret Service and the Diplomatic
Security Service of the Department of State should review
this incident and confirm with the Turkish National Police
the standards expected by visiting security details to
prevent future violent incidents;
(5) the Department of State should immediately request the
waiver of immunity of any Turkish security detail official
engaged in assault in the United States prior to release of
that individual from custody;
(6) the Department of State should conduct a review of its
own security procedures to determine how to mitigate the
likelihood of such an event in the future;
(7) the United States respect for free speech requires
officials of the United States to speak out against such
incidents; and
(8) the United States should take steps to strengthen
freedoms for the press and civil society in countries such as
Turkey, and combat efforts by foreign leaders to suppress
free and peaceful protest in their own countries.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentlewoman from the District of
Columbia (Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
general leave
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and to include any extraneous material in the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the gentlewoman from
the District of Columbia, and also the gentleman from New York, the
ranking member of this committee, Mr. Engel, for working with us on
this clear condemnation of the violence against peaceful protesters
outside the Turkish Ambassador's residence in Washington, D.C., on May
16.
That day, President Erdogan of Turkey, a longstanding NATO ally, met
at the White House to discuss counterterrorism cooperation and to
discuss bilateral issues. This was an important meeting. But that
evening, armed members of the Turkish President's security detail
brutally attacked demonstrators who had gathered outside the Turkish
Ambassador's residence on Sheridan Circle in Washington, D.C. They were
there to protest various policies of the Turkish Government.
In an unprovoked attack, armed Turkish personnel broke through D.C.
Metropolitan Police lines and attacked the protesters. They choked,
beat, and kicked the demonstrators until D.C. Metropolitan Police
officers, and State Department Diplomatic Security were able to stop
the melee and restore order.
One woman was beaten unconscious. She testified before the Foreign
Affairs Committee that she sustained brain damage as a result. A
protester near her was beaten to the ground and repeatedly kicked in
the face. His front teeth were smashed.
Mr. Speaker, what was the reason these and other American citizens
were harshly beaten?
They chose to exercise their constitutional right to free speech and
assembly. They chose to criticize actions of President Erdogan's
government. The protesters got under the Turkish delegation's skin.
Let us be clear: at no time was President Erdogan in danger. This was
not an act of protection. It was an act of suppression on our American
soil.
The actions of the Turkish security detail were unprofessional and
dangerous. You had armed security personnel creating a melee. The
actions were unjustified and, up to this point, have gone largely
unchallenged.
H. Res. 354 puts Congress firmly on record in clear, unmistakable
terms condemning the actions of the Turkish security guards last month.
The resolution also demands that Turkey immediately lift diplomatic
immunity for all those who assaulted U.S. citizens and law enforcement
officers.
This resolution also calls for the U.S. State Department and the U.S.
Secret Service to review their security procedures and for them to
convey to Turkish officials in clear terms the expectations for the
behavior of their security teams when they are operating in the U.S.
Mr. Speaker, one of the most disturbing aspects of last month's
attack is that this assault by Turkish security officials was not an
isolated incident. Rather, it was the third instance of violence they
have engaged in while operating in the United States in recent years.
Passage of this resolution is an appropriate, strong response by this
House to those brutal actions by Turkish forces.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. I thank the
Democratic and Republican leaders who introduced this resolution
condemning the violence of the security detail at the Turkish Embassy
here in the Nation's Capital.
I am not surprised at the bipartisan nature of this resolution coming
from the top of Congress about the right to protest peacefully in our
country. This was an assault, after all, not only on the protesters,
but on one of our most important American values: the right to assemble
and use the First Amendment to protest.
Mr. Speaker, we must persist because I do not recall a demonstration
like this. It was witnessed by the chief of police himself, Peter
Newsham, and he, himself, is an eyewitness who declared that these
protesters were all peaceful. There were also videos of the nonviolent
protesters being assaulted.
Now, the United States and the protesters deserve an appropriate
response from the Turkish Government. Instead, we received a farfetched
shifting of blame from Turkey. That makes it all the more important
because the shifting of the blame will lead some to believe that we are
responsible for what happened. Actually, we need to protest in the
strongest terms because it turns out that this is part of a pattern.
A similar incident occurred about a half dozen years ago at the
United Nations, same head of state, same thugs attacking peaceful
protesters.
Last year--just this past year--there was an attack on journalists
outside of The Brookings Institution.
So if we don't tell them it is time to stop when we have had the
third attack, they will persist. That is for sure.
We know who these security details are. They couldn't have gotten
into the country accompanying a head of state without telling us who
they are. Moreover, two of them were arrested, so we have their names.
I have written the Secretary of State, Mr. Tillerson, to ask him to bar
the reentry of these security personnel; to hold them if they are still
here; and to request information on whether they are entitled to
immunity, and if they are, to have this immunity waived.
We will not let the Turkish thugs who took on our protesters
unprovoked hide behind immunity. It can be waived if it is present. It
should be waived. These security personnel should be charged and
prosecuted under U.S. law. Imagine, we would have done precisely the
same if some of our security had behaved in this fashion in Turkey.
There will be no justice to the citizens exercising their First
Amendment rights who were stomped, kicked, and seriously injured until
they and our country are vindicated with an appropriate response from
the Turkish Government.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my
time.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes), my good friend.
Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 354, which
forcefully condemns the shocking assault carried out here on American
soil, here in our Nation's Capital, by trained paramilitary agents of
the Turkish Presidential security force against a peaceful assembly of
protesters who were exercising their First Amendment rights to freedom
of speech.
Video footage offers evidence that President Erdogan sanctioned the
attack, and then calmly sat back to watch as his bodyguards carried it
out.
[[Page H4630]]
{time} 1645
Each of us in this Chamber must ask the question: What sort of
foreign leader invited for an official visit by the President of the
United States would conduct himself in such a reprehensible manner and
would show such contempt for America's commitment to human rights and
civil liberties?
Make no mistake. This is the same man who has ordered mass
incarcerations in his own country, who persecutes dissenters and jails
democratically elected officials, and who locks up journalists on a
whim. In fact, he is the number one jailer of journalists in the world.
The assault on innocent protesters in the streets of Washington,
D.C., is entirely consistent with the impulses of an autocratic Turkey.
It has unmasked President Erdogan for the bully that he is and offers
Americans a teachable moment on the character of official Turkey. It
reflects a deeply imbedded reflex that, in the modern era, has brought
the world, among other things, the unlawful invasion and occupation of
Cyprus, the Armenian genocide, and the violent repression of the
Kurdish people.
This incident demands more than just the prosecution of Erdogan's
security personnel or the expulsion of the Turkish Ambassador or the
strong condemnation of Erdogan himself, all of which should happen. It
is time for a complete reevaluation of the U.S. relationship with
Turkey. We cannot pretend that it is business as usual with a foreign
leader that has attacked our Nation's most cherished democratic values
on our very own soil.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my
time to close.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, this has been painful not only for the
protesters, it is painful for our country because Turkey is an ally. We
have our differences with Turkey, but we are dependent on Turkey for
security matters. If this had never happened before, perhaps we could
say that Turkey just doesn't understand how we operate in this country.
The fact that it was the third incident makes it particularly
bothersome.
Now, we are aware how sensitive this matter is. You cannot deal with
a foreign adversary who happens to be an ally at the same time as if he
were simply the enemy or our opponent. We have to understand the
sensibilities of operating in the international sphere. But it is clear
that Turkey doesn't understand that.
I was particularly concerned that Mr. Erdogan was in his car the
entire time. He could have gotten out of his car and called attention
to his security detail. He could have asked a staff member to do the
very same thing. Instead, he stayed in his car, got out after the
security detail from the D.C. police department had calmed things,
stood there and had nothing to say. If we let this third incident go by
with no response or accept--or even seem to accept--the Turkish
response, that will be a signal to keep it up.
So I am so pleased that my good friend on the other side and I are in
unison on this. I am particularly pleased that this was not a
resolution introduced by me or by my good friend, that this resolution
was introduced by top leaders on the Republican and the Democratic
side.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), who is the Democratic whip of the House.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Representative from the
District of Columbia, Ms. Norton, for yielding. I want to thank Mr.
Royce for his continuing principled and focused leadership on issues
that relate to foreign policy, that relate to human rights, and that
relate to international law. I appreciate very much his leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that I was able to join with the majority
leader, Mr. McCarthy, my friend, in sponsoring this resolution. It is
an appropriate response to the terrible actions that were taken by
security officers protecting Mr. Erdogan on his visit here.
I rise in support of this resolution, which I am proud to have
introduced along with the majority leader, Ranking Member Engel, and
Chairman Royce.
The assault on nonviolent demonstrators here in our Nation's Capital
on May 16 by Turkish security personnel was an outrage. Our resolution
makes it clear: the United States will not tolerate violence against
peaceful protesters on our shores, and those responsible must face
justice.
Turkey remains a critical NATO ally, but I am, nevertheless,
extremely concerned, Mr. Speaker, by the fact that this is the third
such incident in recent years, marking a pattern of violence by Turkish
security personnel in the United States--unacceptable.
Senator John McCain--I won't quote him, but his response was very
direct and very basic. He, too, said this was unacceptable behavior,
and he even suggested that perhaps the Turkish Ambassador ought to
leave. I do not suggest that, but I do suggest the conduct must change.
It is unacceptable.
Our resolution calls on the State Department to take appropriate
actions to ensure that the Turkish Government understands that we will
not allow this to happen again. There must be consequences to this
unprovoked attack on peaceful American citizens in their own country,
and those responsible should be charged and prosecuted by the United
States.
It should be clear to Turkey and to all nations that we will oppose
any attempt to suppress dissent or the freedom of speech. That is why
that is in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States
because our Founding Fathers and, frankly, those who follow Western
values--and, yes, some Eastern values--believe that free speech is
absolutely the sine qua non--an absolute essential--for democracy to
succeed and to flourish.
I want to thank Mr. Royce again for his principled leadership. I want
to thank Ms. Norton, and I want to thank the members of the Foreign
Affairs Committee for their work on this resolution. I urge every
Member of this House to join not only in passing it but sending this
strong message not only to our Turkish allies but to all those who
would come to these shores and understand that our citizens may well
have something to say. They may say it with signs, they may say it with
their voices, and they may say it by standing someplace in proximity;
one of the facets of America is that they have the right to do that,
and those who visit our shores must honor that right.
Support this resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the remaining time for
the minority will be controlled by the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Espaillat).
There was no objection.
Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of this measure. I want to thank Mr. Hoyer, the
gentleman from Maryland.
Let me start by thanking the chairman of the Foreign Affairs
Committee, Mr. Royce of California, for authoring this legislation and
working to bring it to this floor.
By now we have seen the footage. We went to the film and saw the
footage of Turkish thugs attacking peaceful protesters during President
Erdogan's visit to Washington a few weeks ago. It is bad enough when we
see governments anywhere crack down on basic rights like the freedom of
assembly or expression. It is bad enough to see that sort of oppression
in the streets of Ankara or Istanbul, but it is becoming more and more
common as Turkey slips towards authoritarianism.
But to see that on the streets of Washington, D.C., is absolutely
unacceptable--especially at the hands of foreign government officials
who are guests in our country. We cannot allow these actions to remain
unnoticed and to trample on our constitutional rights.
We know that President Erdogan was never in danger. He simply decided
to treat Americans the way he treats his own people. His guards even
had the nerve to attack law enforcement officials who were protecting
him and his delegation.
This behavior cannot stand, and the resolution before us sends a
clear, decisive message that Congress won't tolerate it. The State
Department must do whatever it takes to make sure that this does not
happen again, and those responsible for these heinous acts must be held
accountable. Charges must be filed and pursued.
[[Page H4631]]
I am glad to support this measure that puts the House on record
saying that we won't stand for this type of bully who attacks American
citizens and American democracy.
Mr. Speaker, free speech, free assembly, and free expression are at
the core of any democracy across the world. Turkey is certainly a
partner and an ally, and it is deeply concerning to see the steady
erosion of democracy in that country.
But we cannot tolerate that sort of behavior here in our country.
When you are in the United States, you play by our rules, and that
means obeying our laws and respecting our values. Those responsible for
violence against American citizens should face the consequences.
Otherwise, what is to stop them from doing this once again?
Mr. Speaker, I support this measure, and I urge all my colleagues to
do the same.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
The violent attacks, Mr. Speaker, by officers assigned to Turkish
President Erdogan's security detail against peaceful protesters back on
May 16 were designed to do one thing. They were designed to silence
those protesters' criticism of the Turkish Government. That is why it
is so important that we speak out.
We must speak loudly and clearly that we will protect our citizens
and their fundamental rights to free speech and to assembly. Turkey is
an important and longstanding NATO ally, but the Turkish Government can
and should do better than this, and it can start by addressing the
concerns of the House of Representatives and many Americans who were
very angered by the video capturing this disgraceful attack on these
citizens.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this
resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 354,
which condemns the violence, on American soil, against peaceful
protestors outside the residence of the Turkish Ambassador to the
United States and calls for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
On May 16, 2017, the President hosted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
of Turkey for an official meeting at the White House to discuss
counter-terrorism cooperation and bilateral issues.
That evening, over two dozen protestors peaceably assembled outside
the Turkish Ambassador's residence in Washington, D.C., to voice their
opposition to Turkish Government policies.
It was not long before unprovoked violence erupted, when pro-Erdogan
supporters and individuals from the Turkish Embassy grounds pushed past
District of Columbia police officers to brutally attack the peaceful
demonstrators.
These Turkish officials violated the First Amendment rights of United
States citizens, and multiple armed Turkish officials beat, kicked, and
choked unarmed demonstrators.
Multiple video recordings show the violence with which these
demonstrators were attacked.
The Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia and
the Department of State confirm that the demonstrators did not
instigate the violence.
Two armed Turkish officers attached to a security detail were
detained at the scene for physically assaulting Federal agents but were
later released and allowed to leave the United States because they held
diplomatic immunity.
Mr. Speaker, it is beyond dispute that the life of President Erdogan
was never in any danger.
It must be noted that immunity for diplomatic personnel and certain
other foreign officials is a core principal but so is the
constitutionally protected right to protest peacefully and freely in
the United States.
Mr. Speaker, this is the third instance of violence perpetrated by
members of Turkish President Erdogan's security detail on United States
soil.
In 2011, a brawl erupted in the halls of the United States Nations
General Assembly between members of Turkish President Erdogan's
security detail and United Nations security officers, resulting in one
United Nations security officer being hospitalized due to serious
injuries.
In 2016, members of Turkish President Erdogan's security detail
engaged in unwarranted violence against journalist reporting on an
event at the Brookings Institution.
On May 21, 2017, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson affirmed that
violence outside the Turkish Embassy was ``outrageous'' and ``simply
unacceptable.''
It is imperative that the right to assembly, peaceful protest, and
freedom of speech are not abridged because they are the bedrock of
democracy.
For this reason, the United States Secret Service and the Diplomatic
Security Service of the Department of State should review this incident
and confirm with the Turkish National Police the standards expected by
visiting security details to prevent future violent incidents.
The Department of State should also conduct a review of its own
security procedure to determine how to mitigate the likelihood of
similar events in the future.
It is the duty of this House to stand for our ideals and take steps
to strengthen freedoms for the press and civil society in countries
such as Turkey, and oppose efforts by foreign leaders to suppress free
and peaceful protest in their own countries.
Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of H. Res. 354, I
rise today in strong support passing this legislation to condemn the
reprehensible attacks outside the Turkish Ambassador's residence on May
16.
I am a proud member of the Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish
Americans. New Jersey's Ninth District, and particularly my hometown of
Paterson, has a large and thriving Turkish-American community and I
cherish our close relationship. However, what happened last month was
beyond the pale. The brutal attacks on peaceful protesters are an
affront to our American values and core democratic freedoms of free
speech and peaceful assembly.
One of the individuals attacked by President Erdogan's thugs was a
constituent of mine from East Rutherford. As a college student, Ceren
Borazan bravely joined her friends to peacefully protest President
Erdogan's policies in Washington D.C.
Since President Erdogan has taken office, Turkey has cracked down on
freedom of expression, raided media outlets, and jailed judges,
journalists, and civil servants in violation of democratic norms.
Outside the embassy Ceren was thrown to the ground and kicked by the
Turkish security guards. During the attack a blood vessel in her eye
burst and weeks later she is still reminded of the trauma by nightmares
and fears of retribution. While freedom of speech and freedom to
protest may be prohibited in Turkey, they are bedrock U.S. principles
that must be safeguarded. Violence is never an appropriate response to
free speech.
To ensure such an incident never happens again on our soil, those
involved in carrying out this attack must be brought to justice. They
must be denied diplomatic immunity and prosecuted to the fullest extent
of U.S. law. Mr. Speaker, we must pass H. Res. 354 today to call
attention to these attacks and to ensure justice is carried out for
people like Ceren.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record an editorial from The
Star-Ledger titled ``Trump won't denounce American thuggery. Will he
punish Turkey?''
Trump Won't Denounce American Thuggery. Will He Punish Turkey?
(By Star-Ledger Editorial Board)
Time to take stock of our rights of free speech and
peaceful protest in this country, and what--if anything--
President Trump has done to protect them.
He's been noticeably silent on the brutal beating of
peaceful protesters in Washington, D.C. by the Turkish
President's thuggish bodyguards, on public property, right in
front of our own police, fully caught on video.
The violence was completely unprovoked, and happened
shortly after Trump welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan to the Oval Office. Among others, a young woman from
East Rutherford, Ceren Borazan, was put into a headlock and
choked--popping a blood vessel in her eye--by a man who
threatened to kill her.
This is common practice in Turkey--which is why Trump needs
to make it clear that it isn't acceptable here.
But perhaps the real problem is that it is increasingly
acceptable here. Not just verbal and physical attacks against
peaceful protesters, but against journalists, whom Trump has
called ``the enemy of the people.''
In the past month alone, reporters have been arrested,
slapped, pinned against a wall and choked for trying to do
their jobs; most recently by newly-elected Montana
congressman Greg Gianforte, accused of body-slamming a
journalist.
He's faced no real consequences. ``Elections are about
choices and Montanans made their choice,'' Speaker Paul Ryan
said Friday. Trump, who had lavished praise on Gianforte--``a
wonderful guy''--added: ``Great win in Montana.''
Perhaps this is why the former Breitbart News reporter
Michelle Fields, who was grabbed roughly by Corey Lewandowski
last year when she tried to ask Trump a question, said some
Republicans ``have put party over civility.''
The casualty isn't just civility. Trump's hostility toward
the press--like his attempt to use the FBI to muzzle
journalists--has led
[[Page H4632]]
Reporters Without Borders to lower America's ranking on press
freedom, measured by government restrictions and threats
against the news media.
We're now ranked right below Burkina Faso, one of the
world's poorest countries.
This failure to speak up for peaceful protesters and
journalists began at Trump's rallies, where his supporters
threatened and committed actual violence against them. Since
then, the United Nations has warned that the basic principle
of peaceful protest is under attack in the United States. At
least 19 states have introduced measures that would
criminalize such protests.
The very least the President can do is make some sort of
distinction between what is tolerated here and in Turkey.
Yes, it's a NATO ally, and we have a complex relationship.
But this is about protecting the freedom of speech and
assembly, and basic rules of law in our own country.
The New York Times has publicly identified the culprits,
and New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell is among those leading the
bipartisan charge to hold them accountable. If we can't get
to the thugs in Turkey, then the Trump administration should
hold the diplomats here to account.
Think about the message it sends if the Turkish government
escapes this without so much as a slap on the wrist. A truly
populist President, a defender of American freedoms, would
stick up for the people--not the jack-booted thugs.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res.
354, condemning the violence perpetrated against peaceful protesters
outside the Turkish Ambassdor's residence during Turkish President
Erdogan's visit last month. This timely and critically important
measure was introduced by my good friend, and Foreign Affairs Committee
Chairman, Ed Royce.
Mr. Speaker, as representatives of the American people, we take a
solemn oath to ``support and defend the Constitution of the United
States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.'' This sworn
commitment spurs us to speak out now after the violent attack last
month on peaceful protesters in Washington, D.C. who were peacefully
exercising their First Amendments rights.
On that day a group of peaceful demonstrators--including a resident
from my home state of New Jersey, Ceren Borazan--gathered outside the
Turkish Ambassador's residence to protest the policies of Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Shortly after President Erdogan's
arrival at the residence during his official visit to the United
States, a contingent of his security guards, joined by some supporters,
rushed across the street where the protesters were gathered. Before the
demonstrators knew it, this group of thugs was upon them, throwing them
to the ground and raining blows upon them.
By now we are all familiar with the shocking video images captured of
men in dark suits, some with guns, and others in plainclothes
mercilessly kicking protesters in their faces while they lie helplessly
on the ground. Some demonstrators were outnumbered four to one by their
assailants who punched and manhandled them until DC police intervened.
When police stepped in, some attackers turned to assault our uniformed
officers.
Among this group of protesters were Kurdish- and Armenian-Americans,
members of minorities with a painful history of persecution and
marginalization in their ancestral homelands. These individuals came to
the United States to seek the freedom and safety they were deprived in
their lands of origin.
The United States and its Bill of Rights are a promise to these
people that must not be broken. That members of the President's
security detail and others felt they could attack these sacred rights
with impunity should offend us all. That Erdogan would calmly watch the
melee unfold--as video evidence shows--is as galling as it is
unsurprising. Indeed, just a year ago his security detail was involved
in an all-too-similar incident at a public event in Washington.
Mr. Speaker, the steps recommended by this measure should be urgently
implemented. Among other things, the United States should charge and
prosecute all those involved in the attack. The State Department should
request a waiver of immunity for any Turkish officials charged and
detained in connection with the incident. Finally, the United States
should redouble its efforts to promote democracy and human rights in
Turkey.
Mr. Speaker, this was a brutal physical assault on a group of
peaceful demonstrators in our nation's capital and a brazen insult to
all Americans. I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to
join their voices and votes in strongly condemning this incident and
calling for justice.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 354, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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