For Immediate Release: Tuesday, February 23, 2021
ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 23, 2021— Today the Montgomery County Council passed a resolution spearheaded by Councilmember Evan Glass to reaffirm the County’s commitment to combating hate and extremism. With this proclamation, Montgomery County renews its commitment to root out hatred, political exploitation and to stand with the thousands of federal workers who have dedicated their careers to public service. This resolution was passed with the support of the full Council.
“The attack on the United States Capitol by extremists caused incredible fear and trauma for many Montgomery County residents who were working there to support the important functions of our democracy,” Councilmember Evan Glass said. “As a community, we are committed to the integrity of our institutions and the safety of individuals who carry out the democratic process. While we support everyone’s right to speak freely, assemble peacefully, and worship freely, we have an obligation to call out bigotry, lies, and conspiracies whenever we hear them. Hate has no home in Montgomery County.”
On January 6, 2021, the assault on the United States Capitol perpetrated by Americans shocked the nation and the world and brought into even clearer focus the dangers facing our democracy. Montgomery County is committed to defending democratic institutions, the integrity of our elections, and the security of people and facilities that carry out democratic processes. The County is also committed to ending the spread of hate, bigotry, and harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sex -- including on the basis of gender, gender identity and expression, disability, or any other protected characteristic as defined by law. Montgomery County supports the peaceful exercise of free speech, free assembly, and freedom to worship safely for all people.
“This resolution is a way for us to use our voices to send a clear and unequivocal message that hate and extremism simply have no home here in Montgomery County,” said Meredith R. Weisel, Senior Associate Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League’s D.C. Metro Chapter. “Americans are understandably worried about extremism and political violence. Unfortunately, we cannot legislate, tabulate, regulate, or arrest our way to a healthier and more accepting society. The fundamental cause of bias-motivated violence in the U.S. is the persistence of racism, anti-Muslim bigotry, anti-LGBTQ+ bias, antisemitism, and all forms of identity-based hate, and there are no quick, complete solutions to these problems.”
Montgomery County urges residents to join the Council by adopting these values in their own lives, calling attention to these harms, and denouncing hate and extremism to help keep all safe.
The Council staff report and resolution can be viewed here.
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Release ID: 21-065