title
WHEREAS, a report entitled “Murder and Extremism in the United States” issued by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) revealed that in 2019, domestic extremists killed at least 42 people in 17 separate incidents nationwide, making that year the sixth deadliest on record since 1970, and the same report linked 90% and 81% of these murders to right-wing extremism and white supremacy, respectively; and,
body
WHEREAS, on October 27, 2018, 11 Jews belonging to the Tree of Life-Or-L’Simcha, New Light, and Dor Hadash congregations at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood were murdered simply because of who they are and how they pray, and this tragedy marked the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in our nation’s history; and,
WHEREAS, the violent domestic terrorism incident and insurrection at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021 does not reflect the values of the City of Pittsburgh; and,
WHEREAS, dangerous disinformation, misinformation, and online conspiracy theories, such as QAnon, are spreading and inspiring real-world violence; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh is committed to defending democratic institutions and the integrity of elections and protecting the people who carry out these important processes and the facilities that house them; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh condemns anti-government extremism, white supremacy, racism, anti-Semitism, misogyny, Islamophobia, anti-LGBTQIA+ hate, anti-immigrant and anti-refugee bigotry, ableism, and all hateful speech and bias-motivated violent actions in our community; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh is committed to ending the spread of hate, bigotry, and discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic as defined by law; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh supports the peaceful exercise of free speech, free assembly, and freedom to worship safely for all people; and,
WHEREAS, as elected leaders, we have ability and obligation to work to advance equity in all facets of society, celebrate diversity, prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation, and reject hate and bias in all forms, and we should set a positive example for our constituents.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and the Council of City of Pittsburgh are hereby committed to countering hate, extremism, misinformation, and disinformation through engagement with community leaders, governmental transparency, and public information-sharing regarding efforts to fight extremism, and through the investigation and prosecution of those who commit criminal acts in a manner that is consistent with civil liberties protections; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Council of the City of Pittsburgh do hereby urge Pittsburgh’s residents, institutions, and corporations to join us in adopting anti-extremist values, condemning and rejecting misinformation, disinformation, hate, and extremism in all forms, and calling attention to these harms to keep us all safe.