Title
To acknowledge and welcome the people of Ukraine to the City of Columbus and declare support for Ukrainian sovereignty and their right to self-determination.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus represents and welcomes all residents regardless of national origin and is committed to making Columbus a city that provides opportunity for all; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is home to an increasingly diverse population, including refugees and immigrants from across the world, who add to the economic strength and cultural richness of the community; and
WHEREAS, The people of Ukraine and the City of Columbus have a shared love of freedom, independence, self-determination, and self-governance; and
WHEREAS, Ukraine has enjoyed self-governance since its separation from the Soviet Union in August of 1991 and ratified its most recent constitution in June of 1996; and
WHEREAS, as the situation develops in Kyiv, the people of Ukraine and the tens of thousands of Ohioans of Ukrainian descent are in our thoughts and prayers; and
WHEREAS, we urge the federal government to create safe passage to the United States for those who have been approved for refugee status. For all the cases currently in the pipeline, we implore the government to expedite the process and commit to continue resettling Ukrainian refugees throughout this crisis; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
To acknowledge and welcome the people of Ukraine to the City of Columbus and declare support for Ukrainian sovereignty and their right to self-determination.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the City of Columbus stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine in their fight against Russian oppression, aggression, and annexation.