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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-12-03 ProclamationCITY OIF IOWA CITY www.icgov.org December 3, 2019 ATTACHMENTS: Description Human Rights Day proclamation Item Number: 2.a. City of Iowa City PROCLAMATION Whereas, the City of Iowa City is committed to the pursuit of equality, dignity, and justice for all; ar Whereas, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace; and Whereas, freedom of opinion and freedom of expression are fundamental human rights, protected in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and given legal force through all major international and regional human rights treaties; and Whereas, the scope of the right to freedom of expression is broad, the right to freedom of expression is not an absolute right; and Whereas, hate speech is an intense and irrational emotion of contempt, hostility, and detestation towards an individual or group, and awareness of nonviolent principles and practices is a powerful way to heal and transform our lives and communities, to recognize the dignity and worth of every human being, and to promote peace and harmony among all people; and Whereas, it takes a community together to pledge to stand up to all forms of hate, bigotry and bullying, to not stay silent in the face of intolerance based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, or any other identity; and Whereas, creating dialogue and new relationships is really what makes this effort meaningful; and Whereas, the Iowa City Human Rights Commission, the Iowa City Police Department, the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, the University of Iowa, and the Iowa United Nations Association worked together to produce Unite! Don't Fight, an informational brochure explaining how our community can take a stand against hate speech. Now, Therefore, 1, James A. Throgmorton, Mayor of Iowa City, do hereby proclaim December 10, 2019 to be Human Rights Day in Iowa City, Iowa and encourage all residents to join together to fight against hate in our community. Ma or Signed in Iowa City, Iowa, this 3rd day of December 2 In the face of hatred, apathy will be interpreted as acceptance by the perpetrators, the public and - worse- the victims. Reach out to allies and create a diverse coalition of churches, schools, clubs, civic groups, police, and the media. Hate speech victims are especially vulnerable. Silence amplifies isolation. Support victims and help them speak out. Hate must be exposed and denounced. Speak up in ways that draw attention away from hate and towards unity. We take hate speech seriously. As individuals and as a community, the best thing you can do is: Speak up. Even if you don't think a crime has been committed, call the police to report the incident. Law enforcement tracks and investigates all reports. Call: 319-356-6800 Let's commit to disrupting hate and intolerance at home. at school. in the workplace and in our faith communities. IOWA CITY HUMAN RIGHTS 141007, if if el?'] 410 E. Washington St. Iowa City, Iowa 52240 (319) 356-5022 IOWA CITY UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION 20 E Market #200 St. Iowa City, Iowa 52240 (319) 337-7290 HATE SPEECH NO HATE We can fight hate speech and the hurt it causes as a community! HATE SPEECH AND YOU * This brochure provides information about hate speech, what it is and isn't, and what you can do when you or others are confronted with verbal or written expressions of hate. The more you know, the better equipped you are to handle HATE HAS NO HOME HERE. hate speech, especially the emotional toll it can take. The best remedy for hate ctw�r$ 95 u4 ���; speech is not through censorship, but rather through more speech. Tr+ 1x0 n+a L+m u� al y,J n¢li EI odio no tiene hogar aqui. ii WHAT IS HATE SPEECH? Hate speech is verbal or written communication expressing hatred for some group. It covers all forms of expression which spread, incite, promote or justify racial hatred, xenophobia, Anti-Semitism, discrimination, or other forms of hatred based intolerance. Speech that demeans on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, disability, or any similar ground is hateful. HATE SPEECH & THE FIRST AMENDMENT: The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that hate speech is legally protected free speech under the First Amendment. Speech cannot be punished just because of its hateful content. But when you get beyond content and look at context, speech with a hateful message can be hurtful. One person's hate speech is another's legitimate expression of opinion. While not punishable by law, hate speech can be insulting and feel threatening. You can feel emotionally disturbed. You can feel psychic trauma, which can have physiological manifestations. You can feel silenced. These are all real harms that may be suffered by people who are subject to hate speech that is not punishable. HATE SPEECH & HATE CRIME: . Hate crime doesn't always involve hate speech and hate speech in and of itself is not always a hate crime. A group may use hate speech in an attempt to discriminate but unless the group has broken a law, it is not a hate crime. Hate speech is an attack based on some characteristic. While it may not be a crime, hate speech expresses racism, discrimination and exclusion.