HOUSE MEMORIAL 4

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first special session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Patricia Roybal Caballero and Sheryl Williams Stapleton and Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson and Linda M. Trujillo

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

AFFIRMING SOLIDARITY AND COMMITMENT TO RACIAL EQUITY.

 

     WHEREAS, members of the house of representatives took an oath of office to support state laws, the constitution of New Mexico and the United States constitution; and

     WHEREAS, both the state and federal constitutions provide that no person shall be denied equal protection of the law; and

     WHEREAS, recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and Ahmaud Arbery are examples of failures to provide equal protection of the law to all people; and

     WHEREAS, while each person is guaranteed the right of a trial by jury of their peers, George Floyd never received that right; and

     WHEREAS, although George Floyd never lived in New Mexico, his death has caused residents of this state to reconsider the policies that govern the people of this state; and

     WHEREAS, grassroots organizations and young people are bearing the brunt of local, state and federal policing; and

     WHEREAS, this legislature pledges to embrace laws that will lead to the enactment of policies that will suppress and eliminate all forms of unjustified violence directed at Black communities and killings of African Americans; and

     WHEREAS, the suppression of organizers and activists who are leading and participating in efforts to protest should be condemned; and

     WHEREAS, law enforcement personnel should be required to participate in professional development courses that facilitate recognition of biases to prevent those biases from influencing their ability to protect the public; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature commits to working toward a safe, inclusive and equitable enforcement of the laws of this state to ensure that there is truly equal protection under the law for every member of every community;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it affirm and commit to the passage of laws that will not silence human rights; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this legislature commit to address and abolish structural inequities to the best of its ability; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the speaker of the house of representatives, the office of the governor, the national association for the advancement of colored people, the Black lives matter coalition and the New Mexico Black caucus.

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