HOUSE MINORITY CAUCUS: FORMAL CONDOLENCES TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL DERAILED BY DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP
State House, Providence – During the first week of session since the horrific October 7 attacks by Hamas, a large bipartisan group of legislators presented a Resolution of Condolences for immediate consideration by House membership. This would normally have been a routine request, as the House frequently expresses condolences to victims of terror or other atrocities or events. Unfortunately, the Democratic leadership declined to follow customary procedure forcing the resolution to go to committee where there is no guarantee it will ever see the light of day. Resolution sponsor Rep. Brian C. Newberry and House Minority
Leader Michael Chippendale commented:
“It is unfortunate the Democratic leadership is so concerned about backlash from the pro-Hamas wing of the party that they cannot even bring themselves to allow a vote on a bipartisan pro forma resolution condemning mass murder and rape of innocent civilians sponsored by nearly 2/3 of House members from all ends of the political spectrum,” said Representative Brian C. Newberry. “The Democratic Party is being taken over in real time by radical leftists who glorify violence and the mainstream party leaders are too timid to stand up to it. Their excuse was that the resolution was ‘controversial’. I defy anyone to read it and tell me how it is ‘controversial’ to condemn rape, torture and murder by an officially designated terrorist organization directed at a close ally and denounced by President Biden.”
“It’s a fundamental duty of political leadership to confront and challenge those within our own ranks who openly and continually endorse crimes against humanity,” said Leader Michael Chippendale. “The silence or passive acceptance in the face of such horror, particularly in relation to the ongoing calls for Jewish genocide, is not just a failure of policy, but a moral failure. We must stand firmly against any form of support for such atrocities, regardless of political affiliation, and we must let the Israeli people know that the good people of Rhode Island support them in these trying times.”
Co-signers of this resolution include Rhode Island House Representatives: Brian C. Newberry (48), Mia Ackerman (45), Thomas E. Noret (25), Michael Chippendale (40), Alex S. Finkleman (74), Jacquelyn M. Baginski, (17), Joseph Solomon (22), Barbara Ann Fenton Fung (15), Ramon A. Perez (13), Samuel A, Azzinaro (37), Raymond A. Hull (6), Camille Villa-Wilkinson (21), Edward T. Cardillo, Jr. (42), Robert E. Craven, Sr. (32), David J. Place (47), Brian Rea (53), Jason Knight (67), George A. Nardone (28), Stephen M. Casey (50), Julie A. Casimiro (31), Katherine S. Kazarian (63), Jennifer Boylan (66), William W. O’Brien (54), Lauren H. Carson (75), Megan L. Cotter (39), Jon D. Brien (49), Robert D. Phillips (51), Carol Hagan McEntee (33), Patricia Serpa (27), Deborah A. Fellela (43), Joseph M. McNamara (19), Gregory J. Costantino (44), Evan P. Shanley (24), Charlene Lima (14), Matthew S. Dawson (65), David A. Bennett (20), Susan R. Donovan (69), Marvin L. Abney (73), Justine Caldwell (30), Joshua J. Giraldo (56), Brandon Voas (57), Arthur Handy (18), Mary Messier (62), Kathleen Fogarty (35), Terri Cortvriend (72), Sherry Roberts (29), Nathan Biah (3), John G. Edwards (70), Alex Marszalkowski