Bill Text: FL S2016 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Democratic Institutions
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2021-04-30 - Died in Governmental Oversight and Accountability [S2016 Detail]
Download: Florida-2021-S2016-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2021 (NP) SR 2016 By Senator Berman 31-01073C-21 20212016__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution supporting democratic institutions, 3 affirming a commitment to inclusivity, and condemning 4 extremism and violence. 5 6 WHEREAS, the Florida Senate is committed to defending 7 democratic institutions and the integrity of the election system 8 and to ensuring the security of the people who carry out the 9 democratic process and the facilities they work in, and 10 WHEREAS, the Florida Senate is committed to ending the 11 spread of hatred, bigotry, and harassment based on race, color, 12 religion, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and 13 expression, sexual orientation, disability, and any other 14 protected characteristic as defined by law, and 15 WHEREAS, the diversity of the people of our state is 16 beneficial to all who call Florida home, making us stronger and 17 more resilient, and 18 WHEREAS, the Florida Senate wishes to affirm its commitment 19 to cultivating an inclusive community within this legislative 20 body and in institutions and organizations throughout our great 21 state by celebrating diversity, working to ensure equitable 22 opportunities in all segments of society, preventing the spread 23 of misinformation and disinformation, rejecting hatred and bias 24 in all forms, and setting a positive example for our 25 constituents, and 26 WHEREAS, the January 6, 2021, domestic terrorism incident 27 at our nation’s Capitol does not reflect the values of the 28 Florida Senate, and 29 WHEREAS, the Anti-Defamation League’s report “Murder and 30 Extremism in the United States in 2019” found that domestic 31 extremists killed at least 42 people in the United States in 17 32 separate incidents in 2019, making 2019 the sixth-deadliest year 33 on record for domestic extremist-related murders since 1970, and 34 WHEREAS, misinformation, disinformation, and online 35 conspiracy theories such as QAnon are spreading and inspiring 36 real violence, and 37 WHEREAS, the Federal Bureau of Investigation identified 111 38 hate crime incidents in Florida in 2019, and 39 WHEREAS, the Florida Senate supports the right of all 40 people to peacefully exercise free speech, free assembly, and 41 freedom to worship, NOW, THEREFORE, 42 43 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 44 45 That the Florida Senate denounces the January 6, 2021, 46 domestic terrorism incident at the United States Capitol. 47 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Florida Senate affirms its 48 ongoing commitment to cultivating an inclusive, safe, and just 49 society and culture, including within the operations of the 50 Florida Senate, which values the diversity of the people of our 51 state, works to ensure equitable opportunities for all, and 52 celebrates both our individuality and our commonality. 53 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Florida Senate denounces 54 and rejects views of anti-government extremism, white supremacy, 55 racism, anti-Semitism, misogyny, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti 56 LGBTQ+ hate, discrimination in favor of able-bodied people, and 57 all hateful speech and bias-motivated violent actions, wherever 58 they occur. 59 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Florida Senate denounces 60 extremist misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy 61 theories that cultivate an alienated and mistrustful electorate, 62 undermine democratic institutions and processes, and increase 63 the likelihood of violence. 64 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Florida Senate urges all 65 Floridians to join it in adopting values in their own lives 66 based on inclusiveness, diversity, equal opportunity, truth, and 67 the rejection of hatred and bias in all forms, recognizing the 68 harms caused by hate and extremism, and denouncing hate and 69 extremism in the interest of the public safety and quality of 70 life for all Americans.