A concurrent RESOLUTION

to encourage the State and THE United States government to provide relief for all victims of injustice whose suffering is currently being met with indifference and silence.

Whereas, more than twenty thousand Haitians have been denied entry and deported despite continued instability after the assassination of Haiti's democratically elected president and a powerful earthquake this summer even as we welcomed over one hundred thousand Ukrainian refugees; and

Whereas, should we be helping Ukraine - of course we should, but should we be neglecting Haiti - of course we should not. There is a clear double standard and preference, and it should be called out by all. At the moment, there are asylum seekers from Ukraine able to present themselves at the port of entry and have their claim heard in the United States while there have been refugees waiting for two years as Title 42 has been implemented; and

Whereas, the United States' response to Ukrainian refugees makes clear that we aspire to be a humanitarian leader. However, the callous neglect of Haitian victims makes such aspirations hypocritical. We need and should have a program that provides temporary housing for both sets of refugees; and

Whereas, the time has come for such biases to end. We must help Ukraine because it is right, but our failure to treat Haitian refugees in the same regard says much about who we are as a Nation. Both of these nations are victims of hate; and

Whereas, here in South Carolina, we aim to be better and to match our actions with our words. This is why we will continue to fight to get the Clementa Pinckney Hate Crime Bill passed. We want to be a State and Nation that doesn't just say we are for justice and democracy. We want our actions and laws to reflect that noble rhetoric. Join me and others as we call on the nation's leaders to support Ukraine and Haiti with the same enthusiasm and as we call on South Carolina's leadership to pass the hate crime bill. The time for empty words has passed and the need for immediate action is now; and

Whereas, during the upcoming new year we ask all good people everywhere to join with us in prayer for the relief of all victims of injustice whose suffering is met with indifference and silence. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, encourage the State and the United States government to provide relief for all victims of injustice whose suffering is currently being met with indifference and silence.

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