HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2020-053 City Denouncing Anti-Semitism, Anti-Asian Bigotry, & All Hateful Speech, Violent Action & the Spread of Misinformation Related to COVID-19 that Casts Blame, Promotes Racism & Discriminatio RESOLUTION NO. 2020-053
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DANIA
BEACH, FLORIDA, DENOUNCING ANTI-SEMITISM, ANTI-ASIAN
BIGOTRY, AND ALL HATEFUL SPEECH, VIOLENT ACTION AND THE
SPREAD OF MISINFORMATION RELATED TO COVID-19 THAT CASTS
BLAME, PROMOTES RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION OR HARMS THE
CITY'S CITIZENS OF ASIAN, PACIFIC ISLANDER, JEWISH, IMMIGRANT
AND OTHER DESCENTS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; FURTHER,
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, more than 4,758,937 cases and
more than 316,277 deaths have been confirmed worldwide as of May 18, 2020, according to the
Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, and according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 1,525,646 cases and 90,263 deaths have been reported in the
United States as of that date; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 will not be stopped by political boundaries and was not created
or caused by any race, nationality or ethnicity, and the World Health Organization has cautioned
against using geographic descriptors that can fuel ethnic and racial discrimination; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 has infected people from all racial, national and ethnic
backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, the City of Dania Beach is fully committed to the safety, security, and
equal treatment of its citizens as it confronts the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, each individual has the ability to promote inclusiveness, celebrate diversity,
support all fellow community members, prevent the spread of misinformation, and reject hate
and bias in all forms; and
WHEREAS, hate crimes, discrimination and aggression against Asians and Jews are on
the rise throughout the country as these groups are being blamed for the COVID-19 outbreak and
spread; and
WHEREAS, as our history has shown, times of great fear, uncertainty and unrest can
lead to the demonization, blaming, and scapegoating of groups; and
WHEREAS, extremists are taking advantage of COVID-19 to spread their hateful
ideologies, including antisemitism, racism, Islamophobia, and Sinophobia; and
WHEREAS, amid the growing spread of COVID-19, there are surging reports of bias-
motivated incidents targeting members of the Asian and Pacific Islander community in the
United States; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a public health issue, not a racial, religious or ethnic one, and
the deliberate use of terms such as "Chinese virus" or "Kung Fu virus" to describe COVID-19
only encourages hate crimes and incidents against Asians and further spreads misinformation at a
time when communities should be working together to survive this crisis; and
WHEREAS, the Jewish community has been targeted with blame, hate, and anti-Semitic
statements and conspiracy theories about their creating, spreading and profiting from COVID-19;
and
WHEREAS, it is critical that the City take leadership and stand in solidarity with its
Asian and Jewish communities to send a message that discriminatory and hate-motivated
behavior and violence will not be tolerated; and
WHEREAS, all persons are encouraged to report any anti-Semitic, discriminatory or
racist incidents to the proper authorities for investigation; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to affirm its commitment to the well-being and safety of its
Asian and Jewish community members and ensure that they know they are not alone and that the
City of Dania Beach is committed to ending the spread of all forms of hate and bigotry;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA:
Section 1. That the foregoing "Whereas" clauses are ratified and confirmed as being
true and correct and they are made a specific part of and incorporated into this Resolution by this
reference.
Section 2. That the City Commission joins cities, counties and states across the
country in affirming its commitment to the safety and well-being of all community members,
including the Asian and Jewish communities, and in combatting hate crimes targeting Asians,
Jews and Pacific Islanders. The City denounces anti-Semitism, anti-Asian bigotry, and all
hateful speech, violent action and the spread of misinformation related to COVID-19 that casts
blame, promotes racism and discrimination or harms the City's citizens of Asian, Pacific
Islander, Jewish, immigrant and other descents.
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Section 3. That the City Clerk is directed to furnish copies of this Resolution to the
Florida and Broward Leagues of Cities for distribution to their members.
Section 4. That all resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict with this Resolution
are repealed to the extent of such conflict.
Section 5. That this Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage
and adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED on June 9, 2020.
ATTEST: 04
THOMAS SCHNEIDER, CMC �'� LORI LEW LLEN
CITY CLERK �IsH10 MAYOR
APPRO A O O AND CORRECTNESS:
THOqM J. SBRO
CITY ATTORNEY
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