For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 5, 2023
From the Office of Councilmember Evan Glass
ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 5, 2023— Montgomery County Councilmember Evan Glass released the following statement related to the Anti-Hate Task Force briefing at today’s Council meeting:
“I want to express my profound appreciation to each of the members of the Council’s Anti-Hate Task Force for their active participation and thoughtful recommendations presented to the Council today about how we can make our community a more welcoming and safe place to live, work, worship and raise a family,” said Councilmember Evan Glass. “I convened this group in June as a way to combat the rising level of hate crimes and bias incidents focused on our Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), Black and African American, Jewish, Latino and Hispanic, LGBTQ+, and Muslim communities.
"The Task Force recommended several policies to ensure that responses to hate crimes and bias incidences are fair, equitable, and consistent, including holistic anti-hate crime and bias incident trainings for members of law enforcement, implementing comprehensive tracking and reporting of hate crimes and bias incidents, and strengthening existing reporting mechanisms. Their recommendations also included avenues for educating community members, combatting hate, and promoting inclusivity.
"We will work collaboratively with County agencies, MCPS educators and administrators, law enforcement officers, and leaders across the County to implement the recommendations presented today and work towards achieving our shared goal of making Montgomery County a safe and welcoming home for all.
“Today’s report lays the foundation for the difficult and meaningful work that lies ahead for all of us to unite behind shared strategies for ending hate violence and bias incidents. We must ensure that 'hate has no place in Montgomery County' is more than a motto, but a reality.”
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For information about the work of the Council’s Anti-Hate Task Force visit their webpage on the Council’s website.