ADL Applauds Hallandale Beach As The First City In Florida To Pass Critical Resolution Condemning The Current Pandemic Of Hate

Boca Raton, FL, May 27, 2020… ADL commends Mayor Joy Cooper, Commissioner Michelle Lazarow, and the entire Hallandale Beach City Commission for being the first Florida municipality to pass a resolution denouncing hate last week, calling on all its residents to treat each other with respect, and becoming a Community Overcoming the Pandemic of Hate. The resolution passed unanimously.

The resolution reflects that hate incidents and crimes are rising as Asian Pacific Americans, Jews, Latinos, and immigrants are being blamed for the outbreak and spread of COVID-19. It also highlights that COVID-19 is a health issue, which perpetuates and exacerbates existing inequities – and warns that stigmatizing specific communities for the disease creates an inexcusable risk to all community members.

Over the next three weeks, anti-hate resolutions are expected to be on the city council meeting agendas of Aventura, Bay Harbor Islands, Cape Canaveral, Coconut Creek, Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Key West, Miami Beach, North Miami Beach, Pembroke Pines, and Wilton Manors.

The resolution denounces antisemitism, anti-Asian bigotry, and hateful rhetoric against other communities, and affirms the City’s commitment to the safety and well-being of all its members and to curbing hateful acts. It also encourages people to report incidents to the proper authorities and agencies for investigation.

“By being the first city in Florida to pass this measure, the Hallandale Beach City Commission has shown leadership in promoting respect for all their residents, and taken a stand against coronavirus-related hate,” said ADL Florida Regional Director Sheri Zvi. “Last night, the City of Sunrise followed Hallandale Beach’s lead by adopting a resolution. We call on all Florida public officials to adopt similar measures in recognition that addressing COVID-19 must include ensuring that people are also safe from hate.”

In addition to these municipal measures, the ADL Florida Region leads the Florida Hate Crime Coalition (FHCC) in a state-wide legislative effort to make Florida’s hate crime law comprehensive. The Coalition includes over 330 non-profit and civil rights organizations, religious groups, law enforcement leadership, and public officials, in addition to 38 Corporate Allies.

ADL is a leading anti-hate organization. Founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of antisemitism and bigotry, its timeless mission is to protect the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all. Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion. ADL is the first call when acts of antisemitism occur. A global leader in exposing extremism, delivering anti-bias education and fighting hate online, ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate. More at www.adl.org.