HOUSE SIMPLE RESOLUTION 1
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By: The Speaker
Introduced and read first time: February 28, 2019
HOUSE SIMPLE RESOLUTION
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A House Simple Resolution concerning

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In Re: Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti
Resolution of Censure

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FOR the purpose of ordering the censure of Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti by the House of
Delegates of Maryland, pursuant to Article III, Section 19 of the Maryland
Constitution.

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WHEREAS, Maryland is among the most diverse states in the nation, where African
Americans make up nearly 30% of our State’s population; and

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WHEREAS, 57 African American legislators serve in the Maryland General
Assembly – the most in our State’s history; and

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WHEREAS, Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti, while serving as an elected representative
in the 439th Session of the General Assembly of Maryland, has publicly admitted to using
a hateful and derogatory racial slur while describing a predominantly African American
legislative district in Prince George’s County; and

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WHEREAS, This racist and hurtful term has no place in anyone’s vocabulary,
particularly an elected representative of the State of Maryland serving on behalf of all of
our constituents; and

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WHEREAS, The Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc. has noted that this
blatant act of racism has “blanketed a time where we should be recognizing achievements
in the African American community” by commemorating the month of February as Black
History Month; and

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WHEREAS, Nearly 55 years after the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of
1964, swastikas, nooses, and other symbols of hate continue to appear in our
neighborhoods, public schools, and college campuses; and

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WHEREAS, The Speaker of the House of Delegates has removed Delegate Lisanti
from her chairmanships of the Joint Committee on Unemployment Insurance Oversight

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HOUSE SIMPLE RESOLUTION 1

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and the Unemployment Insurance Subcommittee and is requiring Delegate Lisanti to
attend sensitivity training; and

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WHEREAS, Residents of the State have called for Delegate Lisanti to be removed
from her leadership positions and publicly censured on the floor of the House of Delegates
of Maryland; and

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WHEREAS, This conduct has brought dishonor to the entire General Assembly of
Maryland; now, therefore, be it

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RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, That Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti
be censured by the House of Delegates of Maryland, pursuant to Article III, Section 19 of
the Maryland Constitution.