“You can’t legislate kindness, but it would be really great if you could,” Councilwoman Pat Boy said, discussing a new resolution she will introduce to the Michigan City Common Council this week.
The resolution, titled “Condemning Violence, Bigotry and Hateful Rhetoric Toward Muslims in the United States,” is the result of discussions by local group Citizens Concerned for Syrian Refugees.
Boy hopes to see unanimous support from her fellow council members when she introduces the resolution during Tuesday’s council meeting at City Hall.
The committee responsible for this action, Boy said, originated within the League of Women Voters of La Porte County but quickly grew to include other individuals. It was formed in reaction to the treatment of refugees by the state of Indiana, she said.
“Indiana had people lined up to come here as refugees – there were places for them to go and support for them to come here, but the governor wouldn’t let them come,” she said, referring to Gov. Mike Pence’s ban on Syrian refugees resettling in Indiana last year.
This led to a concern for the treatment of all immigrants, but particularly Muslims – a group that has seen an upswing in mistreatment in America since 9/11.
The resolution says, “Hateful and intolerant acts against Muslims are contrary to the United States’ values of acceptance, welcoming and fellowship with those of all faiths, beliefs and cultures.”
It further states, “The rise of hateful and anti-Muslim speech, violence and cultural ignorance plays into the false narrative spread by terrorist groups of Western hatred of Islam, and can encourage certain individuals to react in extreme and violent ways and ... these acts affect not only the individual victims but also their families, communities and the entire group whose faith or beliefs were the motivation for the act.”
If approved, this resolution would be a statement from the council "(reaffirming) the inalienable right of every citizen to live without fear and intimidation and to practice their freedom of speech.”
Boy said, “It just makes a statement that Michigan City is not in favor of this persecution.” She said state legislators are working on a bill downstate regarding hate crimes – so she thinks the timing of this resolution is perfect.
If it is approved, a copy of the resolution will be sent to Pence, as well as the Indiana State Senate and House of Representatives.
Joining Boy in this stand against violence are councilmen Al Whitlow, Bryant Dabney and Don Przybylinski – all who signed on as co-sponsors of this resolution.
It will be voted on by the full council during the next meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.