Title
Resolution Condemning Hate Crimes, Hateful Rhetoric, and Hateful Acts against Asians and Asian Americans, Encouraging Ann Arbor Residents to Report Hate Crimes and Harassment to the Proper Authorities
Body
Whereas, Racism and prejudice toward Asians and Asian Americans has always existed throughout American history. Prominent examples include the "Yellow Peril," the Page Act, the Chinese Exclusion Act, and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II;
Whereas, Culturally insensitive rhetoric regarding COVID-19 has contributed to a spike in discrimination and hate crimes toward Asians and Asian Americans, including physical assault, verbal harassment, shunning, workplace discrimination, refusal of service, and online harassment. More than 30 percent of Asians and Asian Americans have reported being subjected to discrimination since the beginning of the pandemic, including 16 in Michigan, according to Stop AAPI Hate, and 68% of those reports were made by women;
Whereas, Acts of hate and discrimination are antithetical to our values in Ann Arbor. As civic leaders, it is our duty to cultivate respect, inclusion, and a welcoming community for people of all races, national origins, and ethnicities;
Whereas, All Ann Arbor residents can play a role in establishing a safe and welcoming community by intervening and reporting instances of hate and discrimination. Reporting these incidents is critical to holding perpetrators accountable and fully addressing the issue;
Whereas, Asians and Asian Americans are Ann Arbor’s largest racial and ethnic minority, at 18% of the City’s population; and
Whereas, The murders of Hyun Jung Grant, Yong Yue, Suncha Kim, Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, and Soon Chung Park, as well as Delaina Yaun and Paul Michels, make this resolution timely and urgent;
RESOLVED, That we condemn hate crimes, hateful rhetoric, and hateful acts against Asians and Asian Americans;
RESOLVED, That we condemn white terrorism and white supremacism in all forms;
RESOLVED, That we encourage Asians and Asian Americans in Ann Arbor who experience harassment or hate crimes to contact Ann Arbor Police Department, Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission, and/or the Michigan Attorney General's Hate Crime Unit;
RESOLVED, That we encourage Asians and Asian Americans in Ann Arbor who experience discrimination to contact the Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission and/or the Michigan Department of Civil Rights; and
RESOLVED, That we affirm our Asian and Asian American community’s right to peace and safety.
Sponsored by: Councilmembers Song, Disch, Radina, Grand, Briggs, Griswold, Eyer, Nelson and Mayor Taylor