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[Page S197]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 469--SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE OF IRAN AS THEY ENGAGE IN
LEGITIMATE PROTESTS, AND CONDEMNING THE IRANIAN REGIME FOR ITS
MURDEROUS RESPONSE
Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Ms. McSally, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Rubio, Ms.
Ernst, Mr. Cruz, and Mr. Romney) submitted the following resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
S. Res. 469
Whereas Iran began experiencing severe political unrest
following the increase of fuel prices in November 2019;
Whereas reports state that the November 2019 protests were
the deadliest period of political unrest since the Islamic
Revolution occurred in 1979, resulting in the deaths of
hundreds of Iranian citizens;
Whereas, spurred by the shooting down of a Ukrainian
airliner by the Iranian military and the Government of Iran's
subsequent denial, thousands of Iranian protesters,
undeterred by water cannons, tear gas, and the reported use
of live ammunition, continue their legitimate protest against
a corrupt regime, hoping that their efforts will result in a
brighter future for all Iranians, not just the elite;
Whereas, on January 10, 2020, during a press briefing at
the White House concerning new tough sanctions on Iran,
Secretary Pompeo stated, ``These sanctions targets include
the Secretary of the Supreme National Council and the
Commander of the Basij Forces; that's the regime's brute
squad, which has, in the last few months, killed
approximately 1,500 Iranians who were simply demanding
freedom.'';
Whereas, on January 11, 2020, Iran's only Olympic medalist,
Kimia Alizadeh, announced her defection from Iran, stating
that she was ``one of the millions of oppressed women in
Iran'' and that she had defected due to ``hypocrisy, lies,
injustice, and flattery'' of the Iranian regime;
Whereas, on January 11, 2020, Secretary Pompeo tweeted,
``The voice of the Iranian people is clear. They are fed up
with the regime's lies, corruption, ineptitude, and brutality
of the IRGC under @khamenei_ir's kleptocracy. We stand with
the Iranian people who deserve a better future'';
Whereas, on January 12, 2020, in a tweet directed towards
Iranian leaders, President Trump stated, ``Thousands have
already been killed or imprisoned by you, and the World is
watching. More importantly, the USA is watching'';
Whereas the United States Government supports the rights of
all people to peaceably assemble and allow for substantive
discourse, and it is deeply troubling that a government would
ignore the concerns of its citizens as the Government of Iran
has continually done; and
Whereas, now more than ever, it is imperative that all
nations support the people of Iran as they protest a
government that for far too long has ignored the needs of its
citizens: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) stands with the people of Iran, hopeful for change, as
they protest their corrupt and oppressive government;
(2) condemns the lethal crackdown by the Iranian regime on
the peaceful protestors;
(3) calls on all peaceful and law abiding nations to
support the legitimate protests by the Iranian people; and
(4) demands that the Iranian leadership be held accountable
for their murderous actions against their own citizens who
want nothing less than to be represented by a fair and just
government.
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