RES-2013-162RESOLUTION NO. 2013- 162
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ANAHEIM CONDEMNING ANTI - SEMITIC, HOMOPHOBIC,
PROFANE AND HATEFUL PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND
URGING THAT ALL CITY MEETINGS BY CONDUCTED
WITH RESPECT AND DECORUM
WHEREAS, Section 1. 12.017 of the Anaheim Municipal Code states, "Each person who
addresses the City Council during any meeting of the City Council shall refrain from personal,
threatening, abusive, slanderous or profane remarks to any member of the Council, staff or
general public which remarks disrupt, disturb or impede the orderly conduct of the Council
meeting "; and
WHEREAS, there is a frequency and severity of incidents involving anti - Semitism on a
global scale, as reflected by reports prepared by the United States Department of State in 2008.
the Organization for Security and Co- operation in Europe in 2004 and the Inter- parliamentar.N
Coalition for Comhating Anti - Semitism in 2009; and
WHEREAS, there is also a history, frequency and severity of incidents consisting of
homophobic statements and actions directed against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
individuals throug lout this country and, indeed, globally; and
WHEREAS, the City of Anaheim has very clear administrative policies to insure that our
workplace is free . from hostile, offensive language and behavior as well as clearly prohibiting
and rejecting discrimination of any kind within our organization; and
WHEREAS, Orange County Human Relations Commission Chair, Carol Turpen recently
stated, "hate and bigotry is unwelcome in Orange County where we set our community standard
higher, expecting respect for those with whom we may have passionate political disagreements ",
and
WHEREAS, the City respects conscientious and respectful public discourse on issue
relating to City governance, and believes that the public has the right to comment before its
elected and appointed representatives during public meetings on any matter that is within the
City's jurisdiction The City Council affirms that such comments are protected by Firs.
Amendment principles and the City holds those First Amendment rights in strong regard as
bedrock of public participation in the City's government; and
WHEREAS:, when public discourse leads to the expression of views that are distasteful.
hateful or disrespectful, including instances where statements are tinged either overtly or tacitly
with anti - Semitic:, racist or homophobic references, and while acknowledging that sucl^
statements are often protected by the First Amendment, the City nevertheless maintains its owr
right to speak out fnd condemn such language and conduct; and
WHEREAS, on September 30, 2013, a member of the public, identifying himself as a
representative of - knaheim Home Owners Maintaining our Environment (Anaheim HOME).
spoke during public comments and made personal attacks that included anti- Semitic and
homophobic themes directed against one individual, and further made statements relating to the
Holocaust that reflected anti - Semitic themes directed against a group of persons; and
WHEREAS, following the comments that included these anti- Semitic and homophobic
themes, the speaker refused to disavow these comments or cease making them when asked by the
meeting's presiding officer, the Mayor, to be more respectful in making public comments; and
WHEREAS, Anaheim and its City Council desire to go on record condemning behavior
that encourages an atmosphere of intolerance; and
WHEREAS, the recent pattern of public comments including personal attacks, anti -
Semitic remarks and homophobic comments, must be addressed and firmly disavowed and
condemned by the City of Anaheim to reconfirm the City's commitment to fighting bias and
intolerance. The City Council also wishes to convey to the public the position of the City that all
those who attend City meetings are welcome, can feel safe from concern that the City sanctions
hateful speech, and will be given opportunity to speak before the City Council.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Anaheim as
follows:
1. The City Council of the City of Anaheim, California, condemns and disavows
recent statements that included homophobic and anti - Semitic themes made by
members of the public, including specifically by an individual claiming to be a
representative for Anaheim Home Owners Maintaining Our Environment
(Anaheim HOME); and
2. The City Council calls on Anaheim HOME to publicly reject those statements and
to undertake training or other measures to ensure that the membership of Anaheim
HOME understands the damage and hurt caused by discriminatory and hateful
remarks; and
3. The City Council does not encourage or condone public comments that are anti -
Semitic, racist, homophobic, or involve other forms of bias or personal attack,
whether directed at one individual or a group; and
4. The City Council urges those making comments during the public comment of
City meetings to be respectful of other members of the audience, City staff and
City officials when communicating their ideas and thoughts, consistent with the
City's decorum policy; and
THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION is approved and adopted by the City Council of the
City of Anaheim this 22nd day of October , 2013, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Mayor Tait, Council Members Eastman, Murray, Brandman and Kring
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
CITY OF ANAHEIM
By:
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK OF THE CITY 011 ANAHEIM
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