HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 95-4635, by Representatives Veloria, Tokuda, Cody, Quall, Scott, Cole, Regala, Costa, Mason, Chopp, Cooke, Thibaudeau, Valle, Sommers, Mitchell, R. Fisher, Poulsen, Horn, Buck, Wolfe, Ogden, Ballasiotes, Robertson, Clements, Hickel, Delvin, Conway, Sheldon, Campbell, Smith, Radcliff, Mulliken, Dyer, Ebersole, Jacobsen, B. Thomas, Rust, Goldsmith, Appelwick, Kessler, Chappell, Basich and Dellwo

       WHEREAS, On the morning of March 2, 1995, Timothy Blackwell shot and killed his wife, Susana Blackwell, who was eight months pregnant, and her two friends, Phoebe Dizon and Veronica Laureta, using a semiautomatic handgun; and

       WHEREAS, This savage act took place in the public halls of the King County Courthouse, amid legal proceedings to annul Timothy and Susana Blackwell's marriage; and

       WHEREAS, Timothy Blackwell essentially "purchased" Susana, who was Filipina, through a mail-order bride catalog titled, "Asian Encounters," which supplies photographs and names of potential Asian wives; and

       WHEREAS, Prior to the killing, Timothy Blackwell allegedly physically attacked Susana on at least two separate occasions; and

       WHEREAS, In 1990, Senator Ernesto Maceda of the Philippines decried the "alarming rate" of battering suffered by Filipinas married to foreign nationals through the mail-order bride industry, and sponsored a law banning the solicitation of women in the Philippines by mail-order bride businesses; and

       WHEREAS, The mail-order bride industry has historically encouraged the perception of women as property, to be purchased and dominated by men; and

       WHEREAS, Such a perception contributes to growing rates of domestic violence in our state and in our nation; and

       WHEREAS, Domestic violence is a deadly threat to all citizens, and especially to women and children; and

       WHEREAS, The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that thirty percent of all female homicide victims are killed by husbands, ex-husbands, or boyfriends; and

       WHEREAS, Susana Blackwell's tragic death occurred as she was trying to end her marriage; and

       WHEREAS, The terrible act of violence that has stolen away the lives of Susana Blackwell, Phoebe Dizon, and Veronica Laureta has dealt an irreparable blow to the friends, families, and communities of these three women; and

       WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of the state of Washington, and all of its political subdivisions, to make every effort to eliminate the threat of domestic violence against the citizens of Washington state;

       NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Washington State House of Representatives observe a moment of silence in remembrance of Susana Blackwell, her expected child, and for Phoebe Dizon, and Veronica Laureta; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives support all efforts to eliminate domestic violence in the state of Washington; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Washington State House of Representatives support efforts to ensure the safety of citizens in public institutions; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Washington State House of Representatives openly denounce, and support all efforts to eliminate, the mail-order bride industry; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the families of Susana Blackwell, Phoebe Dizon, and Veronica Laureta; to Mimi Castillo of the Filipino Law Clinic; to the President of the Filipino American Community of Seattle, Camilo de Guzman; and to King County Executive Gary Locke.

              I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

              Resolution 4635 adopted by the House of Representatives

                        Rules Committee on April 22, 1995.

                         ________________________________

                          Timothy A. Martin, Chief Clerk