Tuesday, June 02, 2020
San Antonio City Council unanimously passes resolution denouncing COVID-19 hate speech
City Council unanimously passed a resolution that denounces the use of terms like 'Chinese virus' and 'Kung Fu Virus' as San Antonio continues to fight against the spread of COVID-19.
Anti-hate speech resolution passed by City of San Antonio city council (City of San Antonio)
The resolution condemns any hate speech, violent action and the "spread of misinformation related to COVID-19."
In a letter to council members, Mayor Ron Nirenberg says the city must take a stand against COVID-19 hate speech.
"This coronavirus has held no regard for race, religion, creed, or political boundary. As such, our efforts must meet the indiscriminate nature of COVID-19 with empathy and compassion for all our neighbors," writes Nirenberg. "I ask that you consider adopting the attached resolution - which declares that our COVID-19 response efforts will be free of hate and discrimination - at the next Council A-Session."
Nirenberg's letter adds that terms like 'Chinese virus' and 'Kung Fu Virus' only encourage hate crimes and incidents against Asian communities; and that the Jewish community has also been targeted with blame and conspiracy theories regarding coronavirus.
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This is an older story (May 7) but there is a great deal that is below the surface that shows the hypocrisy of the City Council here.
When asked to name a specific incident where he had heard what he considers to be a derogatory term used for COVID-19 being directed at someone, he was unable to do so. However, Councilwoman Shirley Gonzalez apparently could saying she had heard racial "attacks" being made against the owners and staff of a restaurant called "The Golden Star."
In the past few years, the area in which the Golden Star is located has been overrun with homeless and drug addicts attacking the staff and patrons of the restaurant. When the restaurant came to the City Council, they were told that there was little they could do because they cannot end homelessness or stop drug use. So while the restaurant was dealing with physical assaults, trash, urine and feces, the Council told them "you're on your own." (The police did say they would step up patrols, but didn't want to arrest the homeless in the area.)
Down the street, a self serve car wash was nearly seized by the City because the homeless, drug addicts and dealers were using the area. Needles, and other hazarded waste was regularly found on the property despite the owner cleaning the place daily. The City said they would take the property because the owner could not control the illegal activity there. The police said they would not help him.
In other words, the City Council of San Antonio decided they would not help businesses in the reduction of actual, physical crimes, but they would make a resolution (which has no force of law) decrying speech which is Constitutionally protected.
The Council was, is and remains a joke.
You can read more here if you so choose including actual data upon which the City is relying.
http://raisedonhoecakes.com/ROH/san-antonio-and-the-first-amendment/
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