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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CONDEMNING HATEFUL ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND RHETORIC DIRECTED AT JEWS AND MUSLIMS
WHEREAS, Cook County is the second largest county in the United States and is a welcoming place for all; and
WHEREAS, a Jewish community center in the city of Chicago was the target of a bomb threat in February 2017; and
WHEREAS, Chicago’s Loop Synagogue, which is only two blocks south of the Cook County Building, was vandalized and defaced just recently; and
WHEREAS, several Jewish cemeteries have been desecrated and vandalized in recent weeks; and
WHEREAS, in recent months, people of the Muslim faith have been targeted with threats and hate speech; and
WHEREAS, a number of mosques across the country have received threatening letters; and
WHEREAS, two mosques in the state of Texas were burned down in January 2017; and
WHEREAS, in the wake of these terrible actions, Jewish community centers, synagogues and mosques have been forced to increase security and train staff on how to respond to possible acts of violence; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Sheriff has increased patrols around mosques and synagogues in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, houses of worship and community centers should serve as a place of prayer, learning, refuge and peace, not of fear and hate; and
WHEREAS, all residents of Cook County should unite in opposition to hate and instead spread peace and love.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the President of the Board and the Cook County Board of Commissioners strongly denounce the hateful acts made against those of the Jewish and Muslim faiths and their institutions, and affirm that all people deserve the right to be secure and respected.end