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Washtenaw County Board Of Commissioners Resolve To Stand Against Hate

Washtenaw County
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http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/boc/board-of-commissioners

This week, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution condemning hate and violence. The measure follows the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia and the racists and antisemitic vandalism that took place at the Ann Arbor skatepark. The measure passed with all eight commissioners who were present, voting in favor.  One commissioner was absent. Here is the resolution, in it's entirety: 

A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING RECENT EVENTS OF HATE AND EXTREMISM

IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA AND ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN

 

September 6, 2017

WHEREAS, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners is strongly committed to supporting fundamental human rights and civil liberties, including principles of equity, justice, and inclusion, and

WHEREAS, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners believes that it is essential for our community and its leaders to speak and act to oppose hate, oppression, and racism of all forms; and

WHEREAS, demonstrations on August 12th, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia were organized by white nationalists—including members of the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis—to spread hate and racism, and these demonstrations culminated in attacks on peaceful counter-protesters that caused serious injuries and the death of Heather Heyer; and

WHEREAS, a number of disturbing and unacceptable hate incidents targeting Jewish people, people of color, and the LGBT community have occurred recently in Michigan and in Washtenaw County itself, with incidents in the County including racist graffiti found at Concordia University on August 10th, 2017 and at the Ann Arbor Veteran’s Memorial Skate Park on August 18th; a bomb threat to the Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County on August 22nd; property destruction at the Aut Bar in Ann Arbor on August 25th; and racist graffiti found at the iconic “rock” at the University of Michigan on September 1st; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners strongly condemns the incidents of hatred and violence in Charlottesville, Virginia and in Ann Arbor, Michigan; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners reaffirms its commitment to addressing the institutional and structural inequities that exist in our country and community, a commitment embodied in recent and current actions by the Board, including the development of an Equity Ordinance; support for the immigrant community; support for affordable housing; funding for families with short-term economic needs through the Barrier Busters program; and other measures; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners commits to standing firmly with all county residents, and to speaking against rhetoric and actions that seek to incite violence, prejudice, or hate in our country and community.