Yesterday, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) was joined by Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY), Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) in introducing a resolution condemning the violence against peaceful protesters outside the Turkish Ambassador’s residence on May 16, 2017, and calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.

After Chairman Royce introduced the resolution, he, Ranking Member Engel, Majority Leader McCarthy, and Democratic Whip Hoyer issued the following statement:

“We are introducing this bipartisan resolution today to make it clear that last week’s unprovoked attack on peaceful protesters by Turkish security forces on American soil must not go unanswered and that those responsible must face justice. The attack last week against the protesters fell into a pattern of similar behavior by the Erdogan government and sent a dangerous message that this ideology of suppression has a place among the NATO powers, an alliance built to protect democracy and basic rights against those who would impose the opposite upon the world. We must dispel that notion entirely and make it clear that the United States rejects any and all attempts to deny people the right to raise their voices against those in power through nonviolent means.”

The resolution has been considered and approved at today's Subcommittee Hearing. Chairman Rohrabacher on the hearing said the following: “The attack by members of President Erdogan’s security detail on peaceful protesters earlier this month was offensive and showed a deep disrespect for the United States and the value we cherish. Those responsible should be punished as the law allows and I call on our own authorities to make sure such a situation is never again allowed to occur.”

Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan stated that he joined the House Foreign Affairs Committee in condemning the violent crackdown on peaceful protesters by Turkish security forces, describing it as completely indefensible:

“The violent crackdown on peaceful protestors by Turkish security forces was completely indefensible, and the Eroğan government's response was wholly inadequate. Turkey is an important NATO ally, but its leaders must fully condemn and pologize for this brutal behavior against innocent civilians exercising their First Amendment rights. In the meantime, we stand fully committed to helping bring all those responsible to justice. I want to thank Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, and all the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee for taking swift action on this issue.”