CONGRESSMAN GRAY STATEMENT ON CALIFORNIA PROTEST RESOLUTION

WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Adam Gray (D-Merced) issued the following statement after voting in favor of a House resolution regarding recent protest in Los Angeles, CA.

“Let me be clear: I condemn recent ICE raids throughout California that are causing fear across the Valley. There are ways to fix our immigration system, but these terror-inducing raids are not one of them.

"Like many things I’ve cast votes on this Congress, this resolution was far from perfect. I’m in Washington to do serious work on real issues facing the Valley. Messaging bills like this have no real force of law and simply express the sentiments of Congress—including the sentiment included in today’s resolution that Congress is grateful for the first responders and public safety officers who keep us safe day in and day out.

"I am signed on as an original cosponsor of a similar resolution offered by Congresswoman Barragán, which is far more measured in its approach to responding to the recent events in Los Angeles. It expresses support for peaceful, lawful protests and condemns the President’s decision to send armed troops to Los Angeles, against the wishes of state and local officials, to face Americans simply exercising their First Amendment right to speech and assembly. Now that we’ve voted on the majority’s resolution, I’m calling on my colleagues to bring this reasonable measure to the floor for a vote.”

Read the full text of the resolution Congressman Gray is cosponsoring here.

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