Fiscal Note
No City appropriation required.
Title
Condemning Islamophobia and Antisemitism
Body
WHEREAS, the international crisis in Gaza and Israel is creating fear and distress throughout the United States and our local community; and,
WHEREAS, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), “In the four weeks covering 10/7 to 11/4, CAIR’s national headquarters and chapters received a total of 1,283 requests for help and reports of bias, which is a 216 percent increase over the previous year”, of which "First Amendment issues (23.39%), violations of an individual’s right to free speech and expression, were the top reported case type. This was followed by employment (20.56% reports), hate crimes (15.32% reports) and education and bullying (9.2% reports)" ; and,
WHEREAS, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), "in the one-month period between Oct. 7 and Nov. 7, 2023, the ADL Center on Extremism documented 832 antisemitic incidents of assault, vandalism and harassment across the U.S., an average of nearly 28 incidents a day. This represents a 316 percent increase from the 200 incidents reported during the same period in 2022"; and,
WHEREAS, incidents of Antisemitism and Islamophobia are on the rise across the nation and within our city, posing a significant threat to the well-being and safety of our diverse communities; and,
WHEREAS, to protect the safety of the public, the Madison Police Department takes seriously accusations of hate crimes, and has pledged to investigate them fully; and,
WHEREAS, on November 18, a group of neo-Nazis marched in downtown Madison, according to news reports, “carrying flags with Nazi imagery, including swastikas”; and,
WHEREAS, the Madison Common Council is dedicated to fostering a community that embraces diversity and upholds the principles of equity and human rights; and,
WHEREAS, the Madison Common Council recognizes the importance of creating a community where every resident can live free from fe...
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