,,iii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #fbb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #ae1 #bjbj,mr4 ,menendez 7for ,mr4 ,markey 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,mr4 ,brown1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 ,ms4 ,cantwell1 ,mrs4 ,feinstein1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,mr4 ,casey1 and ,ms4 ,klobuchar77 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,,resolution ,condemning attacks against members of the media and reaffirming the centrality of a free and independent press and peaceful assembly to the health of democracy in the ,united ,states4 ,whereas the ,first ,amendment to the ,constitution of the ,united ,states provides the basis of the freedom of the press and peaceful assembly in the ,united ,states1 stating ,congress shall make no law ''' abridging the freedom of speech1 or of the press2 or the right of the people peaceably to assemble '''2 ,whereas ,thomas ,jefferson1 who recognized the importance of the press in a constitutional republic1 wisely declared1 ''' were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers1 or newspapers without a government1 ,i should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter42 ,whereas ,article #ai of the ,united ,nations ,universal ,declaration of ,human ,rights1 adopted in ,paris on ,december #aj1 #aidh1 states1 ,everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression2 this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek1 receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers42 ,whereas1 on ,december #ah1 #bjac1 the ,united ,nations ,general ,assembly adopted ,united ,nations ,general ,assembly ,resolution #afc 7#bjac7 on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity1 which unequivocally condemns1 in both conflict and nonconflict situations1 all attacks on and violence against journalists and media workers1 including torture1 extrajudicial killing1 enforced disappearance1 arbitrary detention1 and intimidation and harassment2 ,whereas1 according to the ,u4,s4 ,press ,freedom ,tracker1 a nonpartisan website led by the ,freedom of the ,press ,foundation and the ,committee to ,protect ,journalists1 not less than #cbh press freedom violations by local and ,state authorities have been reported by journalists across the ,united ,states in the course of covering the demonstrations associated with the death of ,george ,floyd1 a ,black man1 while he was in ,minneapolis police custody2 ,whereas ,kirstin ,mc,cudden1 managing editor of the ,u4,s4 ,press ,freedom ,tracker1 described the uptick in reports of violations of freedom of the press in the ,united ,states between ,may #be and ,june #c1 #bjbj1 as unprecedented in scope without a doubt42 ,whereas ,joel ,simon1 executive director of the ,committee to ,protect ,journalists1 wrote that covering protests and demonstrations is vital1 both in order to inform the public about the demands of the protesters and also to hold officials accountable42 and ,whereas more than #ajj media and press freedom organizations1 led by the ,reporters ,committee for ,freedom of the ,press1 signed a letter demanding that law enforcement officers immediately stop attacks against credentialed1 clearly identifiable journalists and stressed that law enforcement officers do not have legal immunity when they violate clearly established rights under the ,first ,amendment to the ,constitution of the ,united ,states3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 reaffirms its commitment to the freedom of the press and peaceful assembly as pillars of democracy in the ,united ,states2 7#b7 condemns in the strongest terms violence committed against people of the ,united ,states exercising their right to free speech and peaceful assembly1 including journalists and members of the media1 whether that violence is committed by government officials or anyone else2 7#c7 condemns in the strongest terms actions on the part of any local1 ,state1 or ,federal authorities to limit1 restrict1 or in any way prevent members of the media from-- 7,a7 performing their jobs1 which contribute to the distribution of vital information2 7,b7 promoting government accountability2 7,c7 defending democratic activity2 and 7,d7 strengthening civil society2 7#d7 recognizes the bravery and courage of the journalists of the ,united ,states1 foreign journalists1 and members of the media who put their own safety at risk in order to cover the demonstrations associated with the death of ,george ,floyd and bring information to the people of the ,united ,states and the world2 7#e7 calls on local1 ,state1 and ,federal authorities to-- 7,a7 take steps to ensure that members of the media are able to safely perform their duties without interference1 censorship1 threats of violence1 or physical harm2 and 7,b7 explicitly exempt the news media from any curfew regulations2 and 7#f7 calls on local1 ,state1 and ,federal authorities and officials to-- 7,a7 identify and thoroughly investigate instances in which-- 7i7 government officials or members of police forces have restricted media access to the demonstrations associated with the death of ,george ,floyd2 or 7ii7 violence was perpetrated against members of the media during those demonstrations2 and 7,b7 ensure that the perpetrators of violence against the media are appropriately disciplined and1 if appropriate1 charged4