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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and |
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Article One of the Texas Constitution uphold and protect the |
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freedom for all people to manifest, teach, practice, worship, and |
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observe their religion; and |
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WHEREAS, Violations of religious liberty are often motivated |
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by fear and hatred; according to a 2019 report from the Federal |
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Bureau of Investigation, 20.1 percent of single-bias hate crime |
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incidents were motivated by religious bias, and throughout that |
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year, 1,715 people were victims of anti-religious hate crimes; 13.2 |
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percent of these crimes were anti-Islamic in nature, 13.2 percent |
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were anti-various Christian religions, 60.2 percent were |
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anti-Jewish, 3.5 percent were anti-Sikh, 0.4 percent were |
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anti-Hindu, and 0.3 percent were anti-Buddhist; and |
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WHEREAS, From 2006 through 2019, 29 attacks against mosques |
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occurred in Texas, including multiple shootings, bomb threats, and |
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acts of arson and vandalism; from May 2020 through March 2021, more |
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than 60 incidents of arson, vandalism, and other methods of |
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destruction occurred at Catholic Churches throughout the U.S., |
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including damage to statues and windows of churches in Texas; from |
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2015 through 2018, 151 anti-Semitic incidents occurred in Texas, |
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including harassment, vandalism, and assault; and |
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WHEREAS, All anti-religious hate crimes are inconsistent |
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with our nation's founding principles, and it is imperative that |
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these issues be addressed; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby express support for the rights and dignity of |
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citizens of all faiths and strongly condemn racism, intimidation, |
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violence, vandalism, arson, and other crimes targeting places of |
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worship and their congregants; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives affirm that all |
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citizens should live without fear or intimidation in practice of |
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their faith; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge local and |
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state law enforcement authorities to work to prevent and report |
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anti-religious hate crimes. |