For the relief of Kadiatou Diallo, Laouratou Diallo, Ibrahima Diallo, Abdoul Diallo, Mamadou Bobo Diallo, Mamadou Pathe Diallo, Fatoumata Traore Diallo, Sankarela Diallo, and Marliatou Bah.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of this chamber a resolution adopted March 9, 2005 by the City Council of Mount Vernon, New York, supporting relief for the family of Amadou Diallo. The resolution calls on Congress to grant permanent resident status to the family of the young African immigrant who was shot 41 times by four plainclothes New York policemen.

The full text of the resolution of the Mount Vernon City Council follows:

Whereas, Amadou Diallo, a 24 year old immigrant from

Guinea, was tragically gunned down in a hail of 41 bullets on

February 4, 1999, by officers of the New York City Police

Department as he attempted to enter his residence in the

Bronx; and

Whereas, Amadou Diallo, an innocent man, was found to be

unarmed at the time of his shooting; and

Whereas, the tragic story of Amadou Diallo garnered

international attention, and an unprecedented outcry and

weeks of demonstrations by New Yorkers who sympathized with

his family;

Whereas, the Diallo family currently resides in the United

States under ``deferred action status'' and are vulnerable to

deportation in the upcoming months; and

Whereas, the Diallo family wishes to remain in the United

States; and

Whereas, the Honorable United States Congressman Charles

Rangel has proposed legislation, namely H.R. 677, which would

grant permanent resident status to Amadou Diallo's family

members: Kadiatou Diallo, Laouratou Diallo, Ibrahima Diallo,

Abdoul Diallo, Mamadou Bobo Diallo, Mamadou Pathe Diallo,

Fatoumata Traore Diallo, Sankarela Diallo and Marliatou

Bah; and

Whereas, granting permanent resident status to the Diallo

family would be a proper and just recognition of the tragedy

they have suffered, and it will allow the Diallo family to

pursue the opportunities promised by the American Dream; and

Whereas, the City Council of the City of Mount Vernon fully

supports Congressman Rangel's proposed legislation and

commends his efforts to keep the Diallo family in the United

States; Now, Therefore, be it resolved that the City Council

of the City of Mount Vernon, New York:

Hereby, fully supports Congressman Rangel's proposed

legislation, H.R. 677, which would grant permanent resident

status to Amadou Diallo's family members: Kadiatou Diallo,

Laouratou Diallo, Ibrahima Diallo, Abdoul Diallo, Mamadou

Bobo Diallo, Mamadou Pathe Diallo, Fatoumata Traore Diallo,

Sankarela Diallo and Marliatou Bah.

Resolved, that the City Council of the City of Mount

Vernon, New York, calls upon the United States Congress to

support Congressman Charles Rangel's proposed legislation,

H.R. 677, which would grant permanent resident status to

Amadou Diallo's family members: Kadiatou Diallo, Laouratou

Diallo, Ibrahima Diallo, Abdoul Diallo, Mamadou Bobo Diallo,

Mamadou Pathe Diallo, Fatoumata Traore Diallo, Sankarela

Diallo and Marliatou Bah.

I extend my personal thanks to Mayor Ernest D. Davis, City Council President Karen Watts, City Councilman William R. Randolph, and the rest of the Mount Vernon City Council for this resolution.

Surely, this Congress can heed the advice of the City Council and truly embrace the Diallo family for the loss of their son and brother.