On the recordJune 6, 2017
As an original cosponsor of H. Res. 354, I rise today in strong support passing this legislation to condemn the reprehensible attacks outside the Turkish Ambassador's residence on May 16. I am a proud member of the Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans. New Jersey's Ninth District, and particularly my hometown of Paterson, has a large and thriving Turkish-American community and I cherish our close relationship. However, what happened last month was beyond the pale. The brutal attacks on peaceful protesters are an affront to our American values and core democratic freedoms of free speech and peaceful assembly. One of the individuals attacked by President Erdogan's thugs was a constituent of mine from East Rutherford. As a college student, Ceren Borazan bravely joined her friends to peacefully protest President Erdogan's policies in Washington D.C. Since President Erdogan has taken office, Turkey has cracked down on freedom of expression, raided media outlets, and jailed judges, journalists, and civil servants in violation of democratic norms. Outside the embassy Ceren was thrown to the ground and kicked by the Turkish security guards. During the attack a blood vessel in her eye burst and weeks later she is still reminded of the trauma by nightmares and fears of retribution. While freedom of speech and freedom to protest may be prohibited in Turkey, they are bedrock U.S. principles that must be safeguarded.…
