Law abiding protesters was appalling. It was an abuse of president ial power. It may have been illegal. And it was certainly a violation of the Constitutional Rights of american citizens, the protesters, some of them children, many of them families, there in a public park to peacefully protest were met with rubber bullets and tear gas. This has no place in American Society or any democracy worthy of the name. The president must cease his behavior. The images from last night should disturb all of us and must be condemned by the United States senate. They cannot go unanswered the images from last night should disturb all of us and must be condemned by the United States senate. They cannot go unanswered lest the president be encouraged to take even do even greater abuse because he has no selfrestraint. So in a few minutes i will ask the senates consent to pass a simple resolution that says three things. First, that the Constitutional Rights of americans must be respected. Second, that violence and looting are unlawful and unacceptable. And, third, that Congress Condemns the order to have federal officers use gas and rubber bullets on Peaceful Protesters. This is not a substitute for Racial Justice reforms that are badly needed. But this unconstitutional action by this lawless president requires a response from this body. I hope all senators will support this resolution. Democrats are outraged, republicans should be outraged as well. For my friends on the other side who claim they have not seen the events of last night, i suggest you find a moment and turn on the television. Our republican colleagues cannot be objecting to our resolution on the false grounds that it doesnt reject violence. It does. Let me read you the words again. In the resolution violence and looting are unlawful, unacceptable and contrary to the purpose of peaceful protest. So its right there in the resolution. And so what other reason would any republican senator object to the things in this resolution . If a senator obts, they object under secretar objects they should be asked if they believe americans do not have the constitutional right to exercise the freedom of speech, the freedom of assembly, the right to petition their government . Do they believe americans do not have the right to peacefully protest . Do they disagree with the statement that violence and looting are unlawful and unacceptable or do they support the president s use of tear gas against people, including families, who are peacefully protesting in a public park . Which is it . Any objector should explain why the simple resolution i offer today is so unacceptable to them. And so, mr. President , as if in legislative session, i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of a concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the congress that the Constitutional Rights of americans must be respected, that violence and looting are unlawful and unacceptable, and that Congress Condemns the president for ordering federal officers to use gas and rubber bullets against Peaceful Protesters in la lafayette squa, that the preamble be agreed to and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. The presiding officer is it there objection . Mr. Mcconnell mr. President. The presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Mcconnell reserving the right to object. First and foremost, im a firstamendment absolutist. The right to peaceful protest is absolutely sacrosanct. It is a core american liberty. And when Peaceful Demonstrations occur within the bounds of the law and with the respect for the need for Law Enforcement, we have a need to respect and honor them. Our nation must not turn a deaf ear to the anger, pain, or frustration to black americans. Our nation needs to hear them. Theres no question that the killing of george floyd was horrific. In my view it absolutely appears to have been a henus act of criminal violence. It is unacceptable that mr. Floyd is dead. There is no doubt that divisional racism continues to be a stain on our country. We need to do more to address it. Over the last few days weve seen peaceful protests hijacked on a nightly basis into a rolling series of riots that engulfed Great American cities in wanton destruction and violent crime. These are the two issues the American People are focused on, justice for black americans in the face of unjust violence and peace for our country in the face of looting, riots, and domestic terror. Those are the two issues americans want addressed, Racial Justice and ending riots. Unfortunately, this resolution from my friend the democratic leader, does not address either one of them. Instead, it just indulges in the my my optic on session of President Trump. It pays more attention to the precise ways that federal Law Enforcement affects president ial movement around the white house, instead of cities that have been consumed biryouting, looting, and violence against police for several nights in a row with no end in sight. Outside of the washington, d. C. , bubble, theres no universe where americans think democrats obsession with condemning President Trump is more urgent priority than ending the riots or advancing Racial Justice. There is no universe in which the dynamics of lafayette park, before the president seeks to exit the white house, is a more urgent priority than the shattered glass, destroyed businesses and brutal attacks on Law Enforcement that are happening nationwide in places like lafayette street in new york city. So i will object to my distinguished colleagues resolution and will offer something more full throated in its place. My resolution would condemn a long pattern of Unjust Police violence to black americans, it would champion the First Amendment and praise the peaceful protest that followed mr. Floyds death and clearly condemn the violent rioting that paralyzed places like new york city and insist local authorities get serious about protecting the innocent. So i hope my distinguished colleague will not object. America is united and outraged at the death of mr. Floyd and i hope we can unite to condemn these senseless riots and move Forward Together as one nation. Therefore, mr. President , i object. The presiding officer objection is heard. Mr. Mcconnell as if in legislative session, i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the consideration of s. Res. 601 submitted earlier today i ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. The presiding officer is there objection . Mr. Schumer reserving the right to object. Its very simple. The presiding officer the democratic leader. Mr. Schumer its very simple why the republican leader objected to our resolution and offered this one instead. Its because they do not want to condemn what the president did though every fair minded american of any Political Party would. We certainly should condemn violence. Let me repeat. This resolution condemns violence. But it is insufficient in the light of what happened yesterday to just condemn violence and not condemn what the president did as well. So i will. Duckworth mr. Presi. The presiding officer the senator from illinois. Ms. Duckworth first he said i cant breathe. Then he called out mama for his late mother. Last monday, in broad daylight, george floyd was slowly, publicly killed by someone whose responsibility was to protect and serve. Officer Derrick Chauvin who has since been rightfully fired spent about three minutes ignoring floyds cries of pain. Refusing to move his knee from floyds neck, refusing to let up, to get up, even as the man under him begged for life and lost consciousness. Then he spent roughly another six minutes after floyd had fallen silent, ignoring the growing number of witnesses who begged him to see the obvious, that the man under his knee was unresponsive, that he was dying. As a mom, there are not words to describe the visceral,