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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CALLING FOR A HEARING OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE TO FIND WAYS TO FIGHT AND PREVENT HATE CRIMES AND SPEECH
WHEREAS, Cook County is home to 5.5 million people of diverse backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, there has been a sharp increase in hate crimes and hate speech directed toward Jews, Muslims, People of Color, and members of the LGTBQ community in 2016 and 2017; and
WHEREAS, Synagogues and Mosques in Cook County have been vandalized and threatened; and
WHEREAS, Jewish cemeteries have been the target of hateful vandalism; and
WHEREAS, hate speech directed at the LGTBQ community has increased in recent months; and
WHEREAS, hate crimes, hate speech, and hateful vandalism have no place in Cook County or the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Human Relations Committee of the Cook County Board should hold a hearing to shine a light on this troubling situation and to ensure there is a directed policy approach with involvement from the affected communities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners and the President of the Board that the Human Relations Committee shall hold a hearing around the hateful acts against certain members of our society.
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