TAYLOR, Mich. — A city council in Michigan has unanimously voted to pass a Muslim-based resolution against religious discrimination and hatred.
While the resolution does not specifically mention Islam, Councilman Alex Garza told the News Herald that he introduced the measure to stand in solidarity with the National Network of Arab American Communities’ “Campaign to Take on Hate.” The campaign had been launched recently following the death of three Muslim students in North Carolina who had been shot by an atheist neighbor last month. A motive behind the incident is still being investigated.
“[Taylor] agrees to protect all its citizens and families no matter their religion or ethnicity,” the resolution reads. “As public servants we have an even greater responsibility to speak out against discrimination and hatred because when the unacceptable becomes the norm in our society, human rights for all are threatened.”
“[We will] stand against those who preach hate and incite violence,” it declares.
“I think we should all remind ourselves that this country was not built on us hating each other,” Garza said. “ I think we have to make sure that we continue to remind each other that we support each other and make sure we point out hate when it occurs.”
“This resolution does not commit the city to anything,” he added. “We’re committing to continuing to take on hate in this country.”
Former State Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Muslim, attended the meeting, and told city council that she had been observing “alarming increases in hateful statements” against those of the Islamic religion.
“Engaging our neighbors and colleagues and public servants like yourselves who are not of Arab descent or of Muslim faith is critical in combating increasingly negative images that are leading to criminal acts of violence against places of worship, schools and now even our homes,” she said, asserting that Muslims are now under attack and in danger.
But two area residents who were present spoke against the resolution. One of those was Fred Lyons, who told city council that the measure was unnecessary as no one believes that it is rightful to hate another person.
“I don’t see why we need a resolution to say we’re against hate. We are,” Lyons said. “Anyone who would say you are supporting hate would be asinine.”
Others outside of the city are also expressing concern over the resolution.
“Jihadists are conducting a genocide against Christians across the world and US politicians are passing resolutions prohibiting criticism of genocide, gender apartheid, creed apartheid, misogyny and Islamic Jew-hatred,” wrote Pamela Geller of the Freedom Defense Initiative and Altas Shrugs. “Islamic supremacists are embedding themselves in school boards, town councils, etc., to impose Islam on secular American society. Embedded Muslims … are passing resolutions to impose the sharia — to prohibit criticism of Islam and jihad.”
The Detroit City Council likewise recently passed a resolution in support of the National Network of Arab American Communities campaign, and other cities nationwide, such as Chicago and Los Angeles are expected to consider the measure. It is believed that the effort is based in Dearborn, which has one of the largest Muslim populations in the United States.
Photo: Steve Evans/Wikipedia
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