Resolution No. 2020-37 Condemning Bias and Hateful Speech and Conduct Related to COVID-19 Pandemic - June 9, 2020RESOLUTION NO. 2020-37
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
AVENTURA, FLORIDA, CONDEMNING BIAS AND HATEFUL SPEECH
AND CONDUCT RELATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC;
SUPPORTING AND JOINING THE EFFORTS OF THE ADL TO
COMBAT ALL FORMS OF HATRED AND INTOLERANCE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, an incredible number of
cases and deaths have been confirmed worldwide, according to the Johns Hopkins
University Coronavirus Resource Center, and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 will not be stopped by political boundaries and was not
created or caused by any race 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 Aventura is fully committed to the safety, security, and
equal treatment of its residents and businesses as it confronts the COVID-19 pandemic;
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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, the Anti -Defamation League (the "ADL") has reported that hate
crimes, discrimination and aggression against Asian and Jewish people are on the rise
throughout the country as these groups are being wrongfully blamed for the COVID-19
outbreak and spread; and
WHEREAS, as our history has shown, times of great fear, uncertainty and unrest
may lead to the demonization, blaming, and scapegoating of groups as the "other;" and
WHEREAS, extremists are taking advantage of COVID-19 to spread their hateful
ideologies, including antisemitism, racism, Islamophobia, and Sinophobia; and
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City of Aventura Resolution No. 2020-37
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 U.S.; 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 must be working together to get through this
crisis; and
WHEREAS, the ADL has found that the Jewish community has been wrongfully
targeted with blame, hate, antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories about their creating,
spreading and profiting from COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, to target and stigmatize specific communities for the COVID-19
outbreak and world-wide spread creates an inexcusable risk to all community members;
and
WHEREAS, it is critical that the City of Aventura continue to take leadership and
stand in solidarity with its Asian and Jewish communities to send a message that
discriminatory and hate -motivated behavior or violence will never be tolerated, and will
be defeated; and
WHEREAS, all persons are encouraged to report any such antisemitic,
discriminatory or racist incidents to the proper authorities for investigation and action; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aventura wishes to affirm its commitment to the well-being
and safety of its Asian and Jewish community members, and all community members,
and ensure they know that they are not alone and that the City of Aventura continues to
be committed to ending the spread of all forms of hate and bigotry in the midst of the
COVID-19 emergency.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA, THAT:
Section 1. Recitals Adopted. The above -stated recitals are hereby confirmed
and adopted herein.
Section 2. Hatred Denounced. The City of Aventura denounces antisemitism,
anti -Asian bigotry, and all hateful speech, violent action and the spread of misinformation
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City of Aventura Resolution No. 2020-37
related to COVID-19 that casts blame, promotes racism or discrimination or harms the
City of Aventura's Asian and Pacific Islander, Jewish, immigrant, all community members,
and other communities wherever located .
Section 3. Solidarity. The City of Aventura applauds the efforts of the ADL and
joins cities, counties and states across this great nation 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.
Section 4. Continued Efforts. The City of Aventura will continue its efforts to
protect residents and the targets and victims of hate, and to prosecute and curb hate acts
related to COVID-19, in coordination with nonprofit organizations, the State Attorney's
Office, the Aventura Police Department and other law enforcement partners.
Section 5. Pledge of Support. The City of Aventura recognizes and pledges to
continue to support the inalienable rights of all people in our community to be treated with
respect and to remain safe during this pandemic. Further, the City calls upon all of our
residents to treat each other with respect, and urges residents to join us in calling
attention to these harms and in denouncing hate in order to help keep us all safe during
this unprecedented pandemic and beyond.
Section 6. Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective immediately
upon its adoption.
The foregoing Resolution was offered by Commissioner Narotsky, who moved its
adoption. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Landman, and upon being put to
a vote, the vote was as follows:
Commissioner Denise Landman
Yes
Commissioner Dr. Linda Marks
Yes
Commissioner Gladys Mezrahi
Yes
Commissioner Marc Narotsky
Yes
Commissioner Robert Shelley
Yes
Vice Mayor Howard Weinberg
Yes
Mayor Enid Weisman
Yes
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City of Aventura Resolution No. 2020-37
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 9t" day of June, 2020.
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ENID WEISMAN, MAYOR
ATTEST:
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ELLISA L. HORVATH, MMC
CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
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CITY ATTORNEY
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