,,iv #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #ajbc ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #be1 #bjbj,mr4 ,steube submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,,resolution ,calling for justice for ,george ,floyd and others1 and condemning violence and rioting4 ,whereas the killing of ,george ,floyd on ,may #be1 #bjbj1 at the hands of law enforcement was a horrific act that violated the public trust and was inconsistent with the values and conduct expected of law enforcement officers2 ,whereas the law enforcement officers involved in the killing of ,george ,floyd have been terminated from their positions and charged with crimes relating to their conduct and contribution to the death of ,george ,floyd2 ,whereas in the wake of the tragic death of ,george ,floyd1 peaceful protests began across the ,united ,states focused on justice for ,african-,american victims of police misconduct2 ,whereas these peaceful protests are protected by the ,constitution of the ,united ,states through an individual's ,first ,amendment rights of freedom of speech1 of peaceful assembly1 and to petition the ,government concerning grievances2 ,whereas what began as peaceful demonstrations have been exploited by violent extremists who have carried out acts of violence1 looting1 destruction of business and personal property1 and additional loss of life1 including the deliberate targeting of law enforcement officers2 ,whereas due to the actions of violent extremists1 certain government functions have been temporarily closed1 businesses have been forced to be shuttered1 and livelihoods have been impacted2 ,whereas these acts of violence are considered criminal activity2 ,whereas the ,capitol ,hill ,autonomous ,zone 7,,chaz7 or ,capitol ,hill ,occupied ,protest 7,,chop7 is a six-block self-declared autonomous area within the ,capitol ,hill neighborhood of ,seattle1 ,washington1 that was established by protestors on ,june #h1 #bjbj2 ,whereas protestors commandeered the ,seattle ,police ,department's ,east ,precinct after a seven-day standoff with law enforcement officers and ,national ,guard soldiers2 ,whereas rather than seeking justice for ,george ,floyd1 protestors have prohibited law enforcement officers from entering the ,,chaz and_/or ,,chop zone and have demanded anarchistic and socialist reforms1 such as the abolishment of the ,seattle ,police ,department1 the abolishment of ,,ice in the city of ,seattle1 abolition of imprisonment1 free public house1 free colleges1 and rent control2 ,whereas when law enforcement officers are prohibited by protestors from entering the ,,chaz and_/or ,,chop zone1 they are unable to carry out the oath they took to protect and serve the public2 ,whereas1 on ,june #aa1 #bjbj1 ,seattle ,mayor ,jenny ,durkan proclaimed1 ,capitol ,hill ,autonomous ,zone ,,chaz is not a lawless wasteland of anarchist insurrection--it is a peaceful expression of our community's collective grief and their desire to build a better world2 ,whereas at a press conference the next day on ,june #ab1 #bjbj1 ,seattle ,police ,chief ,carmen ,best directly contradicted ,mayor ,durkan1 saying that ,rapes1 robberies and all sorts of violent acts have been occurring in the area and we're not able to get to them42 ,whereas members of the ,puget ,sound ,john ,brown ,gun ,club 7,,psjbgc71 a self-described anti-fascist1 anti-racist1 pro-worker community defense organization1 were reportedly carrying rifles in the ,,chaz and_/or ,,chop zone2 ,whereas a shooting occurred on ,june #bj1 #bjbj1 in the ,,chaz and_/or ,,chop zone in which seven shots were fired in under three seconds and a #ai-year-old man died and a #cc-year-old man was in critical condition2 ,whereas the ,seattle ,police ,department attempted to respond and clear the way for emergency medical services1 but they were met by a violent crowd that prevented them from accessing the victims2 ,whereas another shooting occurred on ,june #ba1 #bjbj1 in the ,,chaz and_/or ,,chop zone in which the victim was transported to ,harborview ,medical ,center and was later released2 ,whereas these acts of lawlessness take our ,nation's focus away from a safe and civil dialogue on issues of importance to our ,nation2 ,whereas a free society depends on the rule of law1 which is the foundation for the preservation of public order1 peace1 and individual rights2 ,whereas the ,united ,states has a troubled history of racism that includes slavery1 the terror of lynch mobs1 segregation1 and ,jim ,crow1 which leaves our country with important work to accomplish2 ,whereas the just and unbiased enforcement of the rule of law and the protection of innocent individuals against lawbreakers is an essential function of government at the local1 ,state1 and ,federal levels2 ,whereas the law enforcement profession is inherently dangerous and police officers risk their lives every day2 ,whereas in #bjai1 according to statistics reported to the ,,fbi1 #hi law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents2 ,whereas law enforcement officers are entrusted by the public to uphold the law2 ,whereas law enforcement officers who abuse their positions1 engage in corruption1 employ excessive force1 or exhibit bias1 betray the public trust and undermine the rule of law2 ,whereas good law enforcement cannot exist without accountability and justice2 ,whereas law enforcement officers swear an oath to uphold the public trust even though1 through the performance of the duties of a law enforcement officer1 the officers may become targets for senseless acts of violence2 ,whereas law enforcement officers have bravely continued to meet the call of duty to ensure the security of their neighborhoods and communities at the risk of their own personal safety in the time of a viral pandemic2 ,whereas the resolve to service is clearly demonstrated by law enforcement officers across the country who have tragically fallen ill or passed away due to complications of ,,covid-#ai contracted in the line of duty2 ,whereas understaffed police departments and undertrained police officers increase the risk of encounters that result in the use of force1 including unjustifiable or excessive force2 ,whereas a coalition within the ,new ,york ,city ,council proposed a #a billion cut from the ,new ,york ,police ,department budget in the #bjba fiscal year2 ,whereas1 two ,hartford1 ,connecticut1 ,city ,council ,members proposed a #be-percent across-the-board reduction for the ,hartford ,police ,department ,budget2 ,whereas1 on ,june #aa1 #bjbj1 the ,austin1 ,texas1 ,city ,council voted to begin the process of defunding the ,austin ,police ,department2 ,whereas1 on ,june #ab1 #bjbj1 the ,minneapolis1 ,minnesota1 ,city ,council unanimously voted to abolish the ,minneapolis ,police ,department1 despite the fact that ,minneapolis's violent crime rate is one of the highest in the ,nation2 ,whereas1 on ,june #ae1 #bjbj1 the ,baltimore1 ,maryland1 ,city ,council approved an approximately #bb million budget cut for the ,baltimore ,police ,department1 despite the fact that ,baltimore saw #cdh murders in #bjai with over two-thirds remaining unsolved2 ,whereas1 on ,june #af1 #bjbj1 the ,los ,angeles1 ,california1 ,city ,council voted to study ways to cut the ,los ,angeles ,police ,department's budget by #ajj million to #aej million dollars2 and ,whereas defunding the police would leave police departments understaffed and undertrained1 while also increasing the risk of violent crime to the communities of the ,united ,states1 especially vulnerable communities3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7 calls for justice for ,george ,floyd2 7#b7 calls for justice for officers and others who have suffered from violence at the hands of extremists2 7#c7 strongly condemns the violence1 riots1 and looting in the ,united ,states2 7#d7 recognizes that violent opportunists use the cover of legitimate protests by their fellow citizens to sow chaos2 7#e7 recognizes that the actions of those committed to violence does not diminish the rights of other ,americans to peacefully protest2 7#f7 urges peace and order to be restored2 7#g7 expresses that those responsible for these violent acts be held criminally responsible for their actions2 7#h7 strongly opposes any effort to establish autonomous areas within the sovereign territory of the ,united ,states2 and 7#i7 strongly opposes efforts to defund1 dismantle1 or disband police forces4