Florida Senate - 2021                            (NP)    SR 2016
       
       
        
       By Senator Berman
       
       
       
       
       
       31-01073C-21                                          20212016__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution supporting democratic institutions,
    3         affirming a commitment to inclusivity, and condemning
    4         extremism and violence.
    5  
    6         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate is committed to defending
    7  democratic institutions and the integrity of the election system
    8  and to ensuring the security of the people who carry out the
    9  democratic process and the facilities they work in, and
   10         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate is committed to ending the
   11  spread of hatred, bigotry, and harassment based on race, color,
   12  religion, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and
   13  expression, sexual orientation, disability, and any other
   14  protected characteristic as defined by law, and
   15         WHEREAS, the diversity of the people of our state is
   16  beneficial to all who call Florida home, making us stronger and
   17  more resilient, and
   18         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate wishes to affirm its commitment
   19  to cultivating an inclusive community within this legislative
   20  body and in institutions and organizations throughout our great
   21  state by celebrating diversity, working to ensure equitable
   22  opportunities in all segments of society, preventing the spread
   23  of misinformation and disinformation, rejecting hatred and bias
   24  in all forms, and setting a positive example for our
   25  constituents, and
   26         WHEREAS, the January 6, 2021, domestic terrorism incident
   27  at our nation’s Capitol does not reflect the values of the
   28  Florida Senate, and
   29         WHEREAS, the Anti-Defamation League’s report “Murder and
   30  Extremism in the United States in 2019” found that domestic
   31  extremists killed at least 42 people in the United States in 17
   32  separate incidents in 2019, making 2019 the sixth-deadliest year
   33  on record for domestic extremist-related murders since 1970, and
   34         WHEREAS, misinformation, disinformation, and online
   35  conspiracy theories such as QAnon are spreading and inspiring
   36  real violence, and
   37         WHEREAS, the Federal Bureau of Investigation identified 111
   38  hate crime incidents in Florida in 2019, and
   39         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate supports the right of all
   40  people to peacefully exercise free speech, free assembly, and
   41  freedom to worship, NOW, THEREFORE,
   42  
   43  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   44  
   45         That the Florida Senate denounces the January 6, 2021,
   46  domestic terrorism incident at the United States Capitol.
   47         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Florida Senate affirms its
   48  ongoing commitment to cultivating an inclusive, safe, and just
   49  society and culture, including within the operations of the
   50  Florida Senate, which values the diversity of the people of our
   51  state, works to ensure equitable opportunities for all, and
   52  celebrates both our individuality and our commonality.
   53         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Florida Senate denounces
   54  and rejects views of anti-government extremism, white supremacy,
   55  racism, anti-Semitism, misogyny, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti
   56  LGBTQ+ hate, discrimination in favor of able-bodied people, and
   57  all hateful speech and bias-motivated violent actions, wherever
   58  they occur.
   59         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Florida Senate denounces
   60  extremist misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy
   61  theories that cultivate an alienated and mistrustful electorate,
   62  undermine democratic institutions and processes, and increase
   63  the likelihood of violence.
   64         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Florida Senate urges all
   65  Floridians to join it in adopting values in their own lives
   66  based on inclusiveness, diversity, equal opportunity, truth, and
   67  the rejection of hatred and bias in all forms, recognizing the
   68  harms caused by hate and extremism, and denouncing hate and
   69  extremism in the interest of the public safety and quality of
   70  life for all Americans.