In Signal Of Broad Support For Ukraine, Colorado Resolution Gets Unanimous OK

By Faith Miller, Colorado Newsline

February 28, 2022

State representatives on Monday unanimously passed a resolution signaling their support for Ukraine in the face of Russian attacks.

The measure expressed broad support among both Republicans and Democrats in the Colorado General Assembly — as in Congress — for the Ukrainian people’s defense of their country, and for U.S. sanctions against Russia. While some far-right commentators including Tucker Carlson of Fox News, have defended Russian President Vladimir Putin, those sentiments did not make their way to the floor of Colorado’s Senate or House of Representatives during discussion of the state-level resolution.

Senate Joint Resolution 22-4 was championed by Sens. Bob Gardner, a Colorado Springs Republican, and Chris Hansen, a Denver Democrat, along with Reps. David Ortiz, a Littleton Democrat, and Patrick Neville, a Republican from Castle Rock.

Through the resolution, state lawmakers declared that they:

1) Proudly stand alongside Ukraine, its people, and its leaders during this horrific and unnecessary war and vow to support Ukraine and hold Russia fully accountable for its catastrophic decision to invade.
2) “Condemn, in the strongest possible terms, Vladimir Putin’s violent attack on the people of Ukraine and strongly endorse the swift and severe economic sanctions and stringent export controls that President Biden’s administration has imposed on Russia.”
3) “Urge Russia to immediately cease its violent, illegal, and immoral assault upon Ukraine, end the needless bloodshed, and return to diplomacy and the rules-based international order that has ensured peace and prosperity for so many."

Neville, an Army combat veteran, praised the resolve of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stay and fight to defend his country.

“You have to admire that kind of courage, and we bring this resolution forward today to bring our support to the Ukrainian people,” Neville said. “Our prayers are with them, and we admire their courage and hope they prevail during this difficult time for their country.”

Ortiz agreed, mentioning other Ukrainians’ stories such as the unconfirmed tale of the pilot “Ghost of Kyiv,” who is rumored to have downed multiple Russian aircraft. Ortiz is an Army combat veteran who narrowly survived a helicopter crash while deployed to Afghanistan.

I just don’t think this is a time for racism.

– State Rep. Naquetta Ricks

“We must do everything we can, (though) we be but humble and simple state legislators, to support the people of Ukraine and to urge our federal delegation and this administration to do everything that we can to support the Ukrainian people,” Ortiz said.

The Senate unanimously passed the resolution on Friday, with two lawmakers, Democratic Sens. Jessie Danielson of Wheat Ridge and Chris Kolker of Centennial, excused. In the House on Monday, the vote was 63-0, with Republican Reps. Mary Bradfield of Colorado Springs and Mark Baisley of Roxborough Park excused.

Rep. Naquetta Ricks, an Aurora Democrat whose family fled persecution in Liberia years ago, supported the resolution but spoke out against Ukraine’s treatment of African students trying to return to their home countries amid the conflict. Students from countries such as Nigeria and South Africa report that Ukrainian police and border officials are preventing them from leaving Ukraine on buses and trains while prioritizing limited seats for white people.

“I just don’t think this is a time for racism,” Ricks said. “We really encourage them to let students and people who are non-white to get out of Ukraine to safety.”

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