California Seeks More Measures to Condemn Russia Invasion of Ukraine

The California flag in Newport Beach, Calif., on Aug. 25, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

SACRAMENTO—More legislation is coming out of California to condemn Russia’s declaration of war against Ukraine, just days after Gov. Gavin Newsom asked the state’s leaders of the three top pension funds to halt money flowing into Russia. Now, legislators in the Assembly are following suit with House Resolution 94 to counter unprovoked attacks on Ukraine.

More than 60 lawmakers voted to join the resolution as co-authors during March 3’s assembly meeting. Assemblymember Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova)—who introduced the resolution—said during the meeting that he represents the “largest diaspora of Ukrainian immigrants in the world” in Sacramento County.

“As a freely elected democracy, Ukraine and President Volodimir Zelensky share many of the same democratic principles we do in California and are fighting to defend and preserve these ideals,” Cooley said.

Assemblymember Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) co-sponsored Cooley’s resolution and said Russia’s attack on Ukraine “is an act of sheer barbarism.”

He added there are “absolutely heartbreaking images” surfacing out of Ukraine but that he is “also seeing incredible displays of courage.”

“And here in California we are seeing people from every walk of life rally in support of our Ukrainian friends and neighbors,” he said.

Now, HR 94 will officially be written into a bill and presented to the Senate for another hearing.

On Feb. 28, Newsom asked the chairmen of the three largest pension funds in the state to halt money going into Russia. That same day, Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) said he would introduce bipartisan legislation to force the state’s pension funds to divest from Russia.

“The world is watching the atrocities taking place in Ukraine. It’s sickening,” McGuire said in a statement. “We must stand strong for the people of Ukraine. That’s why we all must mobilize to stop Russia in its tracks. California has unique and remarkable economic power in this circumstance. As the fifth-largest economy in the world, we must use this power for good. We can help stop this autocratic thug, Putin, by advancing this critical legislation and enacting our own financial divestments.”

A handful of protests in support of Ukrainian citizens have popped up across the state within the last week, with many people rallying in support of the nation as Russian troops continue to vie for control of the region.

Russian troops began their invasion on Feb. 24 and were met with a slew of sanctions from allying countries in the west, targeting Russia’s economy. The United Nations reported more than 1 million refugees have fled the country in the past week.