Title
Resolution to Strengthen Police Training, Police Planning, and to Develop Amendments to City Code to Protect Places of Religious Worship
Body
Whereas, Incidents of interference, intimidation, and violence against religious worshippers in and around places of religious worship have been increasing in the United States and worldwide;
Whereas, An Ann Arbor synagogue has been the target of antisemitic picketing for two decades;
Whereas, A Grand Blanc chapel, a Metro Detroit synagogue, and a San Diego mosque, were recently targets of attacks;
Whereas, People of all religious faiths are entitled to worship where they choose, without intimidation or interference;
Whereas, Michigan State Law provides protections for the free exercise of religion and prohibits hate crimes:
* Under MCL 750.147b an individual is guilty of a hate crime if that individual: maliciously and intentionally uses force or violence against another individual; causes bodily injury to another individual; stalks another individual; damages, destroys, or defaces any real or personal property of another individual; and/or makes a true threat to engage in prohibited conduct described above without the consent of the individual based in whole or in part on an actual or perceived characteristic of that individual, regardless of the existence of any other motivating factors;
* MCL 750.169 prohibits a person from: entering or attempting to enter any private property where the person knows people are meeting or are intending to meet in the pursuit of their free exercise of religion with the intent to disrupt that meeting; after being instructed to leave, remain on or attempt to remain on any private property where the person knows people are meeting or are intending to meet in the pursuit of their free exercise of religion with the intent to disrupt that meeting and/or; intentionally obstructing or attempting to obstruct the entrance to or exit from any private property where the person knows...
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