[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 27, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2055-S2056]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 124--CONDEMNING THE MARCH 15, 2019, TERRORIST ATTACKS 
 IN CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND, OFFERING SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO ALL OF 
    THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND EXPRESSING AND STANDING IN 
        SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND

  Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Risch, Mr. Peters, Mr. Gardner, Mr. 
Durbin, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Markey, and Mr. Schumer) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                              S. Res. 124

       Whereas, on March 15, 2019, an armed white supremacist 
     murdered 50 Muslims and injured dozens more at the Al Noor 
     and Linwood mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand;
       Whereas Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said that ``[i]t 
     is clear that this can now only be described as a terrorist 
     attack,'' noting that many of the victims could be migrants 
     or refugees, and pronouncing it ``one of New Zealand's 
     darkest days'';
       Whereas the people of New Zealand are grieving following 
     the terrorist attacks, which targeted and killed innocent 
     men, women, and children;
       Whereas the people of the United States and New Zealand 
     stood shoulder-to-shoulder and shared spilled blood in the 
     struggles of the 20th century to combat fascism, racism, and 
     other extremist ideologies;
       Whereas New Zealand is among the closest allies of the 
     United States;

[[Page S2056]]

       Whereas New Zealand is a diverse nation with a proud 
     tradition of immigration with more than 200 ethnicities and 
     160 languages, and the strength and vibrancy of New Zealand 
     are enhanced by the diverse religious beliefs and tolerance 
     of its citizens, including followers of all major religions, 
     including Islam, Christianity, and Judaism;
       Whereas the suspect in the Christchurch killings is a self-
     described immigrant-hating white supremacist who used a 
     helmet-mounted camera to broadcast live video of the 
     slaughter in an apparent effort to instigate further white 
     supremacist, anti-Muslim, and anti-immigrant violence;
       Whereas, over the past several years, there has been a 
     disturbing increase in white supremacist violence around the 
     globe, with dozens of people of faith murdered, including in 
     their places of worship;
       Whereas the scourge of white nationalism around the world 
     must be condemned unequivocally; and
       Whereas the reprehensible attacks at the Al Noor and 
     Linwood mosques have no place in a peaceful, civilized, 
     tolerant world: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) condemns the horrific terrorist attacks on the Al Noor 
     and Linwood mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand;
       (2) expresses its deepest condolences to the victims of 
     those attacks and their families;
       (3) expresses solidarity with the people of New Zealand, 
     including the Islamic community of New Zealand;
       (4) recognizes the threat posed by white supremacist 
     terrorism and recommits United States leadership in building 
     more inclusive, diverse, and tolerant societies; and
       (5) calls upon the United States Government to redouble its 
     efforts, using all available and appropriate tools, to combat 
     the spread of white supremacist terrorism.

                          ____________________