The Coral Gables City Commission passed a resolution on May 14 condemning anti-Semitism as well as discrimination and bigotry against all minorities.
The resolution was sponsored by Commissioner Pat Keon and unanimously approved by the commission.
“I have to give credit to [Coral Gables resident] Jack Thompson for writing on this issue on the increase of hate crimes that we see around the country. Fortunately, we haven’t seen that many in our city,” Commissioner Keon said.
“When we take a stand and speak publicly, we speak not only for our community but for the world we live in. We make a statement about our moral compass and what we believe to be problematic in this world,” she said.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, the number of anti-Semitic incidents in the United States rose 57 percent from 2016 to 2017. In 2018, the number of reported incidents recorded at 1,879. The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported a 37 percent increase in hate crimes against Jewish people and institutions, and found that attacks against Jewish people and institutions made up 58.1 percent of all religious-based hate crimes.
“We need to move ourselves from hate to a world where people of different faiths, ethnicities and races can live together in peace and with respect,” Commissioner Keon said.
Commissioner Michael Mena, who supported the resolution, along with his colleagues, added that, “Local communities and local government have such an important role to play in bringing people of different backgrounds, faiths, and cultures together.
“We live together, shop at the same stores, and our children play at the same parks, and our communities continue to come together and engage in this important dialogue,” he concluded.
Comments are closed.