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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 5274COUNCH, RESOLUTION NO. 5274 A RESOLUTIONCONDEITRNG WHITENATIONALISMANDALT - RIGHT ACTIVITIES AND GROUPS. PASSED: 7:0 RE.IECTED: OPPOSED: ABSENT: Evans CONSIDERED: July 24, 2019 RESOLUTION NO. 5274 A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING WHITE NATIONALISM AND ALT - RIGHT ACTIVITIES AND GROUPS. The City Council of the City of Eugene finds that: A. The Mayor and City Council of the City of Eugene are proud to support policies and efforts that uphold our commitment to protect an individual's ability to experience a safe, welcoming and inclusive community in Eugene. B. In alignment with City Council's goal of creating a safe and welcoming community, we value human rights, peace, respect, inclusivity and equity, and recognize that we derive strength from our diversity. C. We acknowledge that scholars consistently define white nationalism as the promotion of the idea that national identity should be built around white ethnicity, and that white people should therefore maintain both a demographic majority and dominance of the nation's culture and public life across the country. D. We recognize that there has been a rise of white nationalist and white supremacist groups in the United States and that the national political dialogue reflects this racial tension. E. Our community is committed to a just and inclusive Republic. White nationalism places the interests of white people over those of other racial groups, and is an ideology focused on maintaining white political, economic, and demographic dominance, and it is at odds with our vision for Eugene. F. The Oregon Constitution states, "No law shall be passed restraining the free expression of opinion, or restricting the right to speak, write, or print freely on any subject whatsoever; but every person shall be responsible for the abuse of this right." (Emphasis added.) G. Free speech is a core principle of an American Republic. The agenda of white nationalist groups seeks to destabilize the American Republic, use fear as a control tactic, divide our community, and promote and ignite social animosities. H. We understand that the City of Eugene exists within the historical context of our nation and state. Marginalized communities have experienced generational oppression and traumas related to the decisions made by people and governments in both the past and present. White supremacy groups have a history of advocating for the marginalization of communities of color through government policies. For example, extreme racial prejudice resulted in the deportation of Japanese -Americans following Pearl Harbor, leading to government action that resulted in their forced relocation to incarceration camps with deplorable living conditions. Today, groups are advocating for the apprehension, detention and deportation of Central American Resolution -- Page 1 of 3 refugees legally seeking asylum in the United States. The State of Oregon also has a history of enacting racist policies that have left lasting harm on communities of color, including entering the Union as a "whites -only" state in 1859, refusing to ratify the 14th and 15th amendments to the United States Constitution, and enacting black exclusion laws. The City of Eugene had de facto enforcement of its status as a `Sundown Town,' an extended presence of the Ku Klux Klan, whites - only housing covenants, and unequal access to government services, all of which led to gentrification and decimation and demolition of historic communities of color. L We have seen a recent surge of white nationalist activity and hostility here, in our home, conjuring painful memories of our City's past and causing harm to current residents. The trauma inflicted on Black people, people of color, Muslim and Jewish people, religious minorities, the LGBTQ community and other marginalized groups by white supremacists results in generational and psychological harm affecting health, educational, economic and social outcomes. J. The City of Eugene has a longstanding history and commitment of celebrating and supporting people of all races, national origins, immigration and refugee statuses, religions, gender, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities, ages, and economic statuses. The City Council has adopted Ordinances and Resolutions that demonstrate this commitment, including: 1. Human Rights Municipal Code provisions, EC 4.613 - 4.655 (adopted in 1971, with the most recent amendment adopted in 2014 which made it unlawful to discriminate based on gender (Ord. 20523)). 2. Resolution 5073 (adopted 2012) in Support of a Statement of Principles for Immigrant Integration. 3. Resolution 5142 (adopted in 2015) Declaring the Urgency of the Housing and Homelessness Crisis. 4. Resolution 5148 (adopted in 2016) Declaring the Second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples' Day. 5. Resolution 5150 (adopted in 2016) Supporting the Oregon Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. 6. Resolution 5154 (adopted in 2016) Declaring the City of Eugene's Commitment in Protecting Refugees. 7. Resolution 5174 (adopted in 2016) Declaring the City of Eugene's Commitment to Being a Welcoming, Inclusive and Safe Community for Everyone. 8. Council Ordinance No. 20579 (adopted 2017) Concerning Protections for Individuals and Adding Sections 2.495 and 2.497 to the Eugene Code, 1971. 9. Resolution No. 5190 (adopted 2017) Declaring the City of Eugene's Opposition to Anti-Semitic Hate and Bias Crimes. Resolution -- Page 2 of 3 10. Resolution No. 5206 (adopted 2017) Supporting the Continuation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EUGENE, a Municipal Corporation of the State of Oregon, as follows: Section 1. The City Council is committed to making Eugene a welcoming, inclusive, and safe community for everyone. We condemn hate, xenophobia, racism, white supremacy, Anti- Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, sexism and other forms of bigotry. Section 2. The City Council is committed to standing in solidarity with the people of Eugene in opposing white supremacy and creating a community where all people can safely, freely and fully engage in our democracy. We will not tolerate hate in any form and will pursue policies to ensure civil and human rights to all individuals. Section 3. The City Council requests that the City Manager explore convening public historians to identify `Sites of Memory' and memorialize them, in collaboration with Eugene's diverse artist community, to begin a process of reconciliation with Eugene's past, to actively acknowledge and address the remnants of Eugene's historical legacy, and to commemorate unsung heroes who have acted to counter white supremacy and discrimination. Section 4. This Resolution is effective immediately upon its passage by the City Council. The foregoing Resolution adopted the 2411 day of July, 2019. Deputy City Recorder Resolution -- Page 3 of 3