Bill Text: NJ AR155 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Condemns bigotry and hatred.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 23-3)
Status: (Passed) 2016-06-27 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR155 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-AR155-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ANDREW ZWICKER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblywoman ELIZABETH MAHER MUOIO
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblywoman MARIA RODRIGUEZ-GREGG
District 8 (Atlantic, Burlington and Camden)
Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblyman REED GUSCIORA
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Coughlin, DeAngelo, Singleton, Eustace, Assemblywoman Quijano, Assemblymen Lagana, Barclay, Ciattarelli, Assemblywoman Oliver, Assemblyman Chiaravalloti, Assemblywoman McKnight, Assemblyman Mukherji, Assemblywoman Mosquera, Assemblyman Houghtaling, Assemblywoman Downey and Assemblyman Kennedy
SYNOPSIS
Condemns bigotry and hatred.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution condemning bigotry and hatred.
Whereas, Bigotry is commonly defined as the blind intolerance of one individual towards the beliefs, race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or social status of another, and hatred is defined as the strong dislike or ill-will of one individual toward another; and
Whereas, Many astute commentators believe that the world, including this nation, is going through an unsettled era of particularly intense bigotry and hatred, which is being expressed by one group of individuals towards another due to their system of beliefs, the color of their skin, the country of their birth, their gender, their sexual orientation or gender identity, or their economic status; and
Whereas, While New Jersey has a rich tradition of diversity, tolerance, openness, and religious freedom, this State is threatened by the spreading, insidious twin evils of bigotry and hatred; and
Whereas, This State's motto is "Liberty and Prosperity" and those words and allegorical figures representing those cherished ideals are in the center of our State flag, pursuant to State law; and
Whereas, New Jersey is one of the most ethnically and religiously diverse states in the nation, with foreign-born individuals making up one in five residents, according to the United States Census Bureau, and with one in four residents identifying as Black, African American, Latino, or Asian; and
Whereas, New Jersey has a long tradition of respecting and honoring the freedom to worship or not worship as we choose, and we cherish the right to be diverse in our faiths, including Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Islamic, and Eastern religious faiths, as well as other faith based beliefs; and
Whereas, Languages other than English are common in New Jersey, including Spanish, Indic, Italian, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and many others, and according to the Rutgers' School of Public Affairs and Administration, almost 30 percent of the State's population over five years of age speaks a language other than English; and
Whereas, This rich diversity of belief and ethnic culture has helped to make New Jersey a stronger, more vital and robust state, one in which bigotry and hatred are never acceptable, nor part of our shared value system; and
Whereas, It is fitting and proper for this House to condemn bigotry and hatred, and all of its nefarious manifestations and consequences internationally, nationally, and in this State; now, therefore,
Be It
Resolved by the General Assembly of the State
of New Jersey:
1. This House condemns bigotry and hatred; steadfastly confirms its dedication to the rights and dignity of all citizens of all faiths, beliefs, and cultures; denounces in the strongest possible terms the increase of hate speech, intimidation, violence, vandalism, arson, and other hate crimes; declares that the civil rights and civil liberties of all New Jersey citizens should be protected and preserved; and reaffirms the inalienable right of every citizen to live without fear and intimidation, and to practice their faith freely.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, American Muslims for Democracy, the Islamic Society of Central New Jersey, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Unidad Latina en Acción New Jersey, the New Jersey State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the New Jersey Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, the New Jersey State Association of Jewish Federations, the New Jersey Council of Churches, the Lutheran Episcopal Advocacy Ministry, the General Baptist Convention of New Jersey, the Reverend Robert Moore, of the Coalition for Peace Action, the New Jersey Catholic Conference, and Garden State Equality.
STATEMENT
This Assembly Resolution condemns bigotry and hatred; steadfastly confirms its dedication to the rights and dignity of all citizens of all faiths, beliefs, and cultures; denounces in the strongest possible terms the increase of hate speech, intimidation, violence, vandalism, arson, and other hate crimes; declares that the civil rights and civil liberties of all New Jersey citizens should be protected and preserved; and reaffirms the inalienable right of every citizen to live without fear and intimidation, and to practice their faith freely.
