[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 9, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2810-S2811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 612--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE 
TRAGIC DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD WAS UNJUST AND THE PERPETRATORS MUST STAND 
      TRIAL AND BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE, THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE 
CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES INDIVIDUALS THE RIGHT TO PEACEABLY ASSEMBLE AND 
PROTEST, GROUPS LIKE ANTIFA AND THE INDIVIDUALS WHO TOOK OVER PEACEFUL 
PROTESTS WITH VIOLENCE, CHAOS, LOOTING, AND DESTRUCTION SHOULD BE HELD 
    ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS, THE ATTACKS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, 
   INDIVIDUALS, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITIES ARE CAUSING DEATH, 
INJURY AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF MEN AND 
   WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WORK TIRELESSLY AND RISK THEIR LIVES TO 
   PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT PREJUDICE, POLICE 
  DEPARTMENTS ARE THE CORNERSTONE FOR MAINTAINING A SOCIETY OF ORDER, 
  CALLS TO DEFUND THE POLICE THREATEN THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE 
  PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, CONGRESS WILL CONTINUE TO APPROPRIATE 
FUNDING TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT BOLSTER POLICE EFFORTS, 
   AND THE NATION MUST COME TOGETHER IN HEALING, RECONCILIATION, AND 
 PRAYER TO REAFFIRM THAT EVERY LIFE IS SACRED, OUR SOCIETY MUST STRIVE 
  FOR EQUALITY, AND THAT WE WILL WORK TO ENSURE A TRAGEDY LIKE GEORGE 
            FLOYD'S NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN IN THE UNITED STATES

  Mrs. LOEFFLER submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 612

       Whereas, on Sunday, May 24, 2020, George Floyd of 
     Minneapolis, Minnesota, was tragically killed by police 
     officers who were subsequently and rightfully removed from 
     their roles in serving the public, and were arrested and 
     charged in connection with Floyd's death;
       Whereas the Senate finds that the rule of law in the United 
     States is undermined when

[[Page S2811]]

     law enforcement officers engage in conduct inconsistent with 
     equal treatment, justice, and the Constitution of the United 
     States;
       Whereas since the death of George Floyd, peaceful protests 
     by thousands of citizens exercising their First Amendment 
     rights across the Nation have taken place;
       Whereas unfortunately in a number of cities, many 
     individuals have used this time of meaningful, peaceful 
     protest and mourning to riot, loot businesses, and burn 
     police cars and churches;
       Whereas radical organizations like Antifa have sadly used 
     the death of George Floyd to organize and sow violence in our 
     communities and should be held accountable;
       Whereas radical protesters defaced the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs headquarters and the World War II Memorial, 
     dishonoring the brave men and women who have served in the 
     Armed Services;
       Whereas radical protesters defaced the Lincoln Memorial, 
     the place where the March on Washington began, that momentous 
     occasion in the history of civil rights;
       Whereas radical protesters burned St. John's Church, a 
     church that supported the bold civil rights moment of the 
     March on Washington;
       Whereas these actions taken by radical protesters do not 
     honor the legacy of George Floyd nor further a rational 
     cause, and those acting as violent anarchists and the members 
     of Antifa are taking advantage of the pain of people and the 
     pain of the peaceful protesters;
       Whereas protests are a normal and healthy part of 
     democracy, while acts of violence, looting, and arson should 
     not be tolerated;
       Whereas in multiple cities, police and other law 
     enforcement personnel have been intentionally attacked, 
     injured, and killed, and many voices are radically calling to 
     defund the police;
       Whereas the vast majority of police officers do their job 
     bravely and righteously and are committed to ensuring that 
     racism plays no part in law enforcement and that everyone 
     receives equal protection under the law; and
       Whereas the United States has a moral and constitutional 
     obligation to protect the life, liberty, and property of all 
     individuals, including from abuse from those we entrust to 
     defend public safety and from domestic terrorists and 
     violent, anti-democratic activists: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that it is the 
     policy of the United States--
       (1) to commemorate the life of George Floyd through 
     official recognition and remembrance;
       (2) that the First Amendment guarantees every individual 
     citizen the right to peacefully assemble and protest;
       (3) to urge an immediate end to the violence leading to the 
     damage of lives and businesses across United States so that 
     the Nation can come together in healing, dialogue, 
     reconciliation, and prayer;
       (4) to urge leaders at every level of government to examine 
     and enhance the training of law enforcement to ensure equal 
     treatment and protection under the law; and
       (5) to urge States and local governments to provide the 
     funding and support necessary for law enforcement and first 
     responders to protect the life, liberty, and property of 
     every individual in the United States regardless of their 
     race, color, or nationality.

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