California 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

California Senate Bill SCR6 Amended / Bill

Filed 02/21/2023

                    Amended IN  Senate  February 21, 2023 Amended IN  Senate  February 02, 2023 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 6Introduced by Senators Umberg and Allen(Coauthors: Senators Caballero, Eggman, Jones, McGuire, Min, Newman, and Wiener)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Schiavo and Petrie-Norris) Addis, Bauer-Kahan, Chen, Friedman, McCarty, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, and Schiavo)December 05, 2022Relative to Iranian protests.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSCR 6, as amended, Umberg. Iranian protests.This measure would would, among other things, proclaim that the Legislature stands in solidarity with the people of Iran in their fight for self-determination, their opposition to torture, and their resistance to the oppression of their personal liberties. liberties and condemns the violent acts against the Iranian people.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill TextWHEREAS, On September 13, 2022, Mahsa Zhina Amini, a 22-year-old woman, woman from Kurdistan Province, was arrested upon her arrival in Tehran, the Iranian capital city, by Gasht-e Ershad, also known as the Islamic Republic of Irans morality police, for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly in violation of Irans compulsory dress codes and subsequently died as a result of police brutality; the brutality she suffered while in custody; andWHEREAS, Mahsa Aminis death sparked the first Iranian female-led revolution of our time, involving thousands of Iranian civilians, including teenagers, students, men, and women of all ages, taking to the streets and university campuses to protest the brutality and repression of the Iranian regime against its citizens; citizens and calling for human rights for its population of 84 million people; andWHEREAS, The ongoing protest movement throughout Iran has resulted in thousands of arrests and hundreds of murders, including children, to extinguish the voices of journalists, artists, media figures, and members of the public who seek to amplify Iranians desire for personal freedoms; andWHEREAS, Iranian authorities have sought to suppress freedom of speech and dissent by implementing violent repression of nonviolent protests, censorship, torture, punishing journalists, and restricting internet access; censorship of media and publications, restricting internet access, jailing journalists and activists for covering the protests, denying access to medical care as a punishment for participating in peaceful protests, imprisonment and torture for acts of civil disobedience, denying access to legal counsel of ones choice, conducting sham trials and confirming death sentences for minor offenses or false accusations, and executing innocent protesters; andWHEREAS, On September 22, 2022, the United States Department of State sanctioned Irans morality police and seven Iranian officials for alleged human rights abuses; andWHEREAS, The Iranian regime has a long history of structural and legal discrimination against women, including barriers for women seeking justice against domestic violence, and for decades has detained and engaged in the ongoing persecution of women; andWHEREAS, Despite that repression, protests have continued to expand in defense of basic freedoms and civil rights, for womens rights rights, and for the rights of religious and ethnic minorities in Iran; Iran, as echoed through the chants zan, zendegi, azadi (woman, life, freedom); andWHEREAS, Across the world, thousands of marchers continue to demonstrate in support of the people of Iran and to send a message that their bravery in risking their lives to dismantle the status quo enforced by a fanatical, theocratic regime is not in vain; andWHEREAS, According to the National Organization for Civil Registration, the United States has the highest number of Iranians outside of Iran, close to 1,000,000 people, with over one-half residing in California. Most Iranian Americans reside in the greater Los Angeles area, which has been affectionately referred to as Tehrangeles or Little Persia among Iranian Americans; andWHEREAS, Iranians have made important contributions as Californians in the fields of finance, technology, law, medicine, education, sports, media, the arts, the military, and government; now, therefore, be it andWHEREAS, On January 26, 2023, the United States House of Representatives passed House Concurrent Resolution 7, which commends the bravery, courage, and resolve of the women and men demonstrating in Iran by a vote of 420 to 1; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature stands in solidarity with the people of Iran in their fight for self-determination, their opposition to torture, and their resistance to the oppression of their personal liberties; and be it furtherResolved, That the Legislature condemns the violent acts that are being perpetrated against the Iranian people, particularly against women and children, and honors the life and legacy of Mahsa Zhina Amini by urging the international community to publicly condemn violence by the Iranian regime against peaceful protesters and to continue to apply pressure on the Islamic Republic to ensure basic human rights for all its citizens; and be it furtherResolved, That the Legislature supports the various sanctions of the United States Department of State issued on Irans morality police, Iranian leaders and entities responsible for human rights abuses, censorship, and prison abuses, as well as sanctions issued by the United States Department of Treasury on Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Cooperative Foundation and individuals connected to human rights abuses against peaceful protesters; and be it furtherResolved, That the Legislature encourages continued efforts by the United States to respond to the Islamic Republics repression of protests, including an effort to expand unrestricted internet access and additional sanctions on individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Iran; and be it furtherResolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

 Amended IN  Senate  February 21, 2023 Amended IN  Senate  February 02, 2023 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 6Introduced by Senators Umberg and Allen(Coauthors: Senators Caballero, Eggman, Jones, McGuire, Min, Newman, and Wiener)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Schiavo and Petrie-Norris) Addis, Bauer-Kahan, Chen, Friedman, McCarty, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, and Schiavo)December 05, 2022Relative to Iranian protests.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSCR 6, as amended, Umberg. Iranian protests.This measure would would, among other things, proclaim that the Legislature stands in solidarity with the people of Iran in their fight for self-determination, their opposition to torture, and their resistance to the oppression of their personal liberties. liberties and condemns the violent acts against the Iranian people.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO 

 Amended IN  Senate  February 21, 2023 Amended IN  Senate  February 02, 2023

Amended IN  Senate  February 21, 2023
Amended IN  Senate  February 02, 2023

 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION

 Senate Concurrent Resolution 

No. 6

Introduced by Senators Umberg and Allen(Coauthors: Senators Caballero, Eggman, Jones, McGuire, Min, Newman, and Wiener)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Schiavo and Petrie-Norris) Addis, Bauer-Kahan, Chen, Friedman, McCarty, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, and Schiavo)December 05, 2022

Introduced by Senators Umberg and Allen(Coauthors: Senators Caballero, Eggman, Jones, McGuire, Min, Newman, and Wiener)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Schiavo and Petrie-Norris) Addis, Bauer-Kahan, Chen, Friedman, McCarty, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, and Schiavo)
December 05, 2022

Relative to Iranian protests.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SCR 6, as amended, Umberg. Iranian protests.

This measure would would, among other things, proclaim that the Legislature stands in solidarity with the people of Iran in their fight for self-determination, their opposition to torture, and their resistance to the oppression of their personal liberties. liberties and condemns the violent acts against the Iranian people.

This measure would would, among other things, proclaim that the Legislature stands in solidarity with the people of Iran in their fight for self-determination, their opposition to torture, and their resistance to the oppression of their personal liberties. liberties and condemns the violent acts against the Iranian people.

## Digest Key

## Bill Text

WHEREAS, On September 13, 2022, Mahsa Zhina Amini, a 22-year-old woman, woman from Kurdistan Province, was arrested upon her arrival in Tehran, the Iranian capital city, by Gasht-e Ershad, also known as the Islamic Republic of Irans morality police, for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly in violation of Irans compulsory dress codes and subsequently died as a result of police brutality; the brutality she suffered while in custody; and

WHEREAS, Mahsa Aminis death sparked the first Iranian female-led revolution of our time, involving thousands of Iranian civilians, including teenagers, students, men, and women of all ages, taking to the streets and university campuses to protest the brutality and repression of the Iranian regime against its citizens; citizens and calling for human rights for its population of 84 million people; and

WHEREAS, The ongoing protest movement throughout Iran has resulted in thousands of arrests and hundreds of murders, including children, to extinguish the voices of journalists, artists, media figures, and members of the public who seek to amplify Iranians desire for personal freedoms; and

WHEREAS, Iranian authorities have sought to suppress freedom of speech and dissent by implementing violent repression of nonviolent protests, censorship, torture, punishing journalists, and restricting internet access; censorship of media and publications, restricting internet access, jailing journalists and activists for covering the protests, denying access to medical care as a punishment for participating in peaceful protests, imprisonment and torture for acts of civil disobedience, denying access to legal counsel of ones choice, conducting sham trials and confirming death sentences for minor offenses or false accusations, and executing innocent protesters; and

WHEREAS, On September 22, 2022, the United States Department of State sanctioned Irans morality police and seven Iranian officials for alleged human rights abuses; and

WHEREAS, The Iranian regime has a long history of structural and legal discrimination against women, including barriers for women seeking justice against domestic violence, and for decades has detained and engaged in the ongoing persecution of women; and

WHEREAS, Despite that repression, protests have continued to expand in defense of basic freedoms and civil rights, for womens rights rights, and for the rights of religious and ethnic minorities in Iran; Iran, as echoed through the chants zan, zendegi, azadi (woman, life, freedom); and

WHEREAS, Across the world, thousands of marchers continue to demonstrate in support of the people of Iran and to send a message that their bravery in risking their lives to dismantle the status quo enforced by a fanatical, theocratic regime is not in vain; and

WHEREAS, According to the National Organization for Civil Registration, the United States has the highest number of Iranians outside of Iran, close to 1,000,000 people, with over one-half residing in California. Most Iranian Americans reside in the greater Los Angeles area, which has been affectionately referred to as Tehrangeles or Little Persia among Iranian Americans; and

WHEREAS, Iranians have made important contributions as Californians in the fields of finance, technology, law, medicine, education, sports, media, the arts, the military, and government; now, therefore, be it and

WHEREAS, On January 26, 2023, the United States House of Representatives passed House Concurrent Resolution 7, which commends the bravery, courage, and resolve of the women and men demonstrating in Iran by a vote of 420 to 1; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature stands in solidarity with the people of Iran in their fight for self-determination, their opposition to torture, and their resistance to the oppression of their personal liberties; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature condemns the violent acts that are being perpetrated against the Iranian people, particularly against women and children, and honors the life and legacy of Mahsa Zhina Amini by urging the international community to publicly condemn violence by the Iranian regime against peaceful protesters and to continue to apply pressure on the Islamic Republic to ensure basic human rights for all its citizens; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature supports the various sanctions of the United States Department of State issued on Irans morality police, Iranian leaders and entities responsible for human rights abuses, censorship, and prison abuses, as well as sanctions issued by the United States Department of Treasury on Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Cooperative Foundation and individuals connected to human rights abuses against peaceful protesters; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages continued efforts by the United States to respond to the Islamic Republics repression of protests, including an effort to expand unrestricted internet access and additional sanctions on individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Iran; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.