BILL NUMBER: ACR 87INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Huffman JULY 24, 2009 Relative to support for human rights for Iranian citizens. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACR 87, as introduced, Huffman. Human rights: Iran. This measure would describe recent protests in Iran concerning their presidential election and would proclaim the Legislature's support for all Iranian American citizens of California, their families in Iran, and for all people of Iran who embrace the values of freedom, human rights, and civil liberties. Fiscal committee: no. WHEREAS, The people of Iran held a presidential election on June 12, 2009, and the result of that election was widely disputed; and WHEREAS, The people of Iran protested the election's results, and the government responded with violence and the suppression of protests calling for a fair and free election; and WHEREAS, The President of the United States stated, "the rights of the Iranian people--to assemble, to speak freely, to have their voices heard--those are universal aspirations, and their bravery in the face of brutality is a testament to their enduring pursuit of justice"; and WHEREAS, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman of the House of Representatives stated, "we must reaffirm our strong belief that the Iranian people have a fundamental right to express their views about the future of their country freely, and without intimidation"; and WHEREAS, The people of Iran are entitled to fundamental rights described in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights: the right to freedom of expression, to assembly, and to take part in the government of their country; and WHEREAS, The rule of law affirms the universality of these individual rights; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature extends its support for the universal rights of the people of Iran, as declared in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, and expresses support for all Iranian American citizens of California, their families in Iran, and the people of Iran who embrace the values of freedom, human rights, and civil liberties; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.