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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Acts of anti-Semitism in countries throughout the |
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world have increased in frequency and severity over the last |
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several years; and |
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WHEREAS, The gravity of the situation escalated |
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substantially in 2014 when incidents of murder, violent attacks and |
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death threats, gun violence, arson, graffiti, anti-Semitic |
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cartoons, and property desecration at cemeteries and places of |
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worship and communal activity were recorded in Europe, North |
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America, Latin America, and the Middle East; and |
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WHEREAS, In April 2014, the U.S. Department of State released |
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the International Religious Freedom Report and noted, |
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"[t]hroughout Europe, the historical stain of anti-Semitism |
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continued to be a fact of life, leading many individuals who are |
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Jewish to conceal their religious identity"; and |
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WHEREAS, A recent European Union Fundamental Rights Agency |
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survey in eight countries found that 25 percent of the Jews |
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interviewed reported that they had been victims of an anti-Semitic |
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episode in the past year, and many Jewish citizens of the EU are |
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thinking of emigrating because of the mounting anti-Semitic |
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violence and their increased security concerns; and |
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WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of every citizen to take a |
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strong stand against anti-Semitism and any religious and cultural |
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intolerance; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby express its condemnation of all forms of |
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domestic and global anti-Semitism; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas House of Representatives: |
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(1) condemn all official and unofficial sanctioning of |
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anti-Semitic activity by any government; |
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(2) express its continued commitment to combating |
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anti-Semitism and to promoting tolerance at home |
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and abroad; |
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(3) urge all governments to take all steps necessary |
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to eradicate anti-Semitism, prevent extremist |
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indoctrination and recruitment, and promote |
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religious tolerance; and |
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(4) express its support of expanded Holocaust |
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education programs that increase awareness and |
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counter intolerance and discrimination; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas House of Representatives call on all |
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citizens and entities to continue to be vigilant in their efforts to |
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prevent anti-Semitism and to report acts of anti-Semitism, hate |
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crimes, and other violations of human rights and religious freedom. |