Bill Text: TX HR302 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Expressing solidarity with the freedom movement in Iran.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-02 - Referred to State Affairs [HR302 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR302-Introduced.html
88R8675 BPG-D | ||
By: Goodwin | H.R. No. 302 |
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WHEREAS, The people of Iran have risen up powerfully against | ||
the grim oppression of a cruel theocracy; and | ||
WHEREAS, In September 2022, a vibrant young woman, Mahsa | ||
Amini, was detained by the country's morality police for allegedly | ||
wearing her headscarf improperly; she was killed in their custody, | ||
and women took to the streets in protest, tossing their headscarves | ||
onto bonfires, cutting off their long hair, and even engaging in | ||
physical confrontations with police; demonstrations against the | ||
savagery of gender apartheid and political persecution spread | ||
across the country, filling the streets with defiant cries of | ||
"Women, Life, Freedom" and vows to fight the dictatorship; and | ||
WHEREAS, The government attempted a complete crackdown, | ||
sending security forces to attack protesters with tear gas, batons, | ||
and bullets; rather than retreating, the freedom movement grew in | ||
size and determination, crossing lines of religion, class, age, and | ||
ethnicity; it galvanized major cities, college campuses, and small | ||
towns all across Iran, as chants of "I will defend my sister" | ||
underlined the centrality of women in the struggle against a | ||
corrupt and brutal regime; and | ||
WHEREAS, Over 500 protesters have now been killed, including | ||
some 70 children, according to human rights monitors; nearly 20,000 | ||
Iranians have been arrested, and at least 100 have received death | ||
sentences or been charged with capital offences; sham trials have | ||
already led to a number of executions; nevertheless, with women and | ||
youth at the forefront, resistance to authoritarian rule continues; | ||
and | ||
WHEREAS, Iranian women have taken the lead in a courageous | ||
fight for liberty, justice, and human rights, becoming agents of | ||
change, and their self-sacrifice and fierce resolve are a source of | ||
tremendous inspiration to people the world over; now, therefore, be | ||
it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby express solidarity with the freedom movement in | ||
Iran and heartily commend the brave women who lead it. |