Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutcocc_resolution_no_2020-13_20200616RESOLUTION NO. 2020-13 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CAPE CANAVERAL, BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA; AFFIRMING THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO DENOUNCING HATE -SPEECH, VIOLENT ACTION AND MISINFORMATION RELATED TO COVID-19; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF PRIOR INCONSISTENT RESOLUTIONS, SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, more than 6,672,287 cases and more than 391,773 deaths have been confirmed worldwide as of June 4, 2020, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1,842,101 cases and 107,029 deaths have been reported in the United States as of June 4, 2020; and WHEREAS, COVID-19 will not be stopped by political boundaries and was not created or caused by any race, nationality or ethnicity, and the World Health Organization has cautioned against using geographic descriptors that can fuel ethnic and racial discrimination; and WHEREAS, people from all racial, national and ethnic backgrounds have been infected with COVID-19; and WHEREAS, the City of Cape Canaveral is fully committed to the safety, security, and equal treatment of its residents as it confronts the COVID-19 pandemic; and 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, hate crimes, discrimination and aggression against Asians and Jews are on the rise throughout the country as these groups are being blamed for the COVID-19 outbreak and spread; and WHEREAS, as our history has shown, times of great fear, uncertainty and unrest can 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 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 City of Cape Canaveral Resolution No. 2020-13 Page 1 of 3 encourages hate crimes and incidents against Asians and further spreads misinformation at a time when communities should be working together to get through this crisis; and WHEREAS, the Jewish community has been 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 Cape Canaveral 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 not be tolerated; and WHEREAS, wishes to affirm its commitment to the well-being and safety of its Asian and Jewish community members and ensure they know they are not alone and that the City of Cape Canaveral is committed to ending the spread of all forms of hate and bigotry. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CAPE CANAVERAL, BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Recitals. The foregoing recitals are deemed true and correct and are hereby incorporated herein by this reference as a material part of this Resolution. Section 2. Denouncing Bigotry. The City of Cape Canaveral denounces antisemitism, anti -Asian bigotry, and all hateful speech, violent action and the spread of misinformation related to COVID-19 that casts blame, promotes racism or discrimination or harms the City of Cape Canaveral's Asian and Pacific Islander, Jewish, immigrant or other communities. Section 3. Affirming Commitment. The City of Cape Canaveral joins cities, counties and states across the country 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 Cape Canaveral will continue its efforts to protect residents, targets and victims of hate, and to encourage prosecution and curb hate acts related to COVID-19 in partnership with nonprofit organizations, the Florida State Attorney's 18th Judicial Circuit, the Brevard County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement partners. Section 5. Support of Rights. The City of Cape Canaveral pledges to support the inalienable rights of all people in our community, who should be treated with respect and must remain safe during this pandemic. We call upon all our residents to treat each other with respect. Section 6. Calling Attention. The City of Cape Canaveral urges residents to join us in calling attention to these harms and denouncing hate to help keep us all safe during this unprecedented pandemic and beyond. City of Cape Canaveral Resolution No. 2020-13 Page 2 of 3 Section 7. Repeal of Prior Inconsistent Resolutions. All prior resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of the conflict. Section 8. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, word, or portion of this Resolution is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereto. Section 9. Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption by the City Council. ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Cape Canaveral, Florida, assembled this 16th day of June, 2020. A L ATTEST: Mia Goforth, CIGCC City Clerk Approved as to legal form and sufficiency for the, CG.t' of Cape Canaveral only by: Anthony A. Garganese, City Attorney Bob Hoog, Mayor Name Mike Brown x Bob Hoog x Mickie Kellum Second Wes Morrison Motion Angela Raymond x City of Cape Canaveral Resolution No. 2020-13 Page 3 of 3 FOR AGAINST