HCR 2  - AS INTRODUCED

2023 SESSION

23-0633

04/08

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 2

A RESOLUTION relative to condemning recent vandalism and intolerance, as recently levied against places of worship and public spaces, elected officials and against the general citizens of New Hampshire.

SPONSORS: Rep. Parshall, Ches. 8; Rep. DiLorenzo, Rock. 10; Rep. Germana, Ches. 1; Rep. Newell, Ches. 4; Rep. Mangipudi, Hills. 11; Rep. W. Thomas, Hills. 12; Rep. Harriott-Gathright, Hills. 10; Rep. Bay, Straf. 21

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

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ANALYSIS

This concurrent resolution condemns recent vandalism and intolerance, as recently levied against places of worship and public spaces, elected officials and against the general citizens of New Hampshire.

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23-0633

04/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

A RESOLUTION relative to condemning recent vandalism and intolerance, as recently levied against places of worship and public spaces, elected officials and against the general citizens of New Hampshire.

Whereas, the New Hampshire general court condemns all hate speech whether these acts are perpetrated covertly, publicly, or by e-mail and social platforms; and

Whereas, multiple documented occurrences of hate speech in New Hampshire include recent threats against a reporter, high school student, a recent immigrant, and 3 members of the New Hampshire house of representatives; and

Whereas, documented incidences of vandalism have been reported in our high schools, cemeteries, places of worship, public spaces and national parks; and

Whereas, it is incumbent upon the house of representatives to stand on the side of love, and seek every available avenue to condemn and combat hate speech as a cancer within our society; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, that the state of New Hampshire:

I.  Stands united in condemning hate, discrimination, and evil in all forms in violation of RSA 651:6-f; and

II.  Rejects hate-motivated crime as an attack on the fabric of the society of the state and the ideals of pluralism and respect; and

III.  Condemns hate crime and any other form of conduct that constitutes racism, religious or ethnic bias, sexual or gender discrimination, discrimination based on age, disability, marriage or familial status, incitement to violence, or animus targeting a minority contrary to law in the state; and

IV.  Calls on state law enforcement officials:

(a)  To expeditiously investigate all credible reports of discrimination, hate crimes, and incidents and threats against minorities contrary to law in the state; and

(b)  To hold the perpetrators of those crimes, incidents, or threats or discrimination accountable and bring the perpetrators to justice; and

V.  Shall work to improve the reporting of hate crimes and discrimination and emphasizing the importance of the agencies’ collection and reporting of data pursuant to federal law; and

VI.  Is encouraged to develop a task force led by the attorney general and appropriate state authorities to collaborate on the development of effective strategies and efforts to detect and deter hate crime and discrimination in order to protect minority communities; and

VII.  Calls on the governor and executive council:

(a)  To offer state assistance and security measures that may be available for victims of hate crimes and discrimination; and

(b)  To enhance security measures and improve preparedness for religious institutions, places of worship, and other institutions that have been targeted because of the affiliation of the institutions with any particular religious, racial, or ethnic minority in the state; and

VIII.  That the house clerk forward copies of this resolution to the governor, the executive council, the attorney general, and the colonel of the division of state police.