World Jewish News

More than 200 mayors from across the US partner with ADL to fight extremism

The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) have announced a new joint plan to fight extremism and bigotry and promote justice and equality in response to the racist and anti-Semitic hatred and violence seen in Charlottesville, Virginia.

More than 200 mayors from across the country representing USCM so far have pledged to implement the plan.

USCM partnered with ADL to develop the 10-point Mayors’ Compact to Combat Hate, Extremism and Bigotry. This is part of the Alliance Against Hate, a new ADL initiative that will work with the public and private sectors to reject hate.

Under the Compact, mayors commit to vigorously speak out against all acts of hate, punish bias-motivated violence to the fullest extent of the law, encourage more anti-bias and anti-hate education in schools and police forces, using ADL experts and resources for both.

“Terrorism by white supremacists, like what took place in Charlottesville, is a clear and present danger to America’s cities,” said Austin Mayor Steve Adler.

“Charlottesville made clear that we have a lot more work to do in our communities and we can’t wait a minute longer to step up our efforts,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director. “The U.S. Conference of Mayors deserves credit for their leadership. Mayors have always been strong supporters of civil rights and counterweights to those who discriminate. ADL could not have found a better partner to work with against hate.”

“What happened in Charlottesville last weekend reminds us all that violent hate and racism are very much alive in America in 2017,” said Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of the U.S. Conference of Mayor.

Columbia Mayor and USCM Vice President Steve Benjamin stated. “We often forget that our country, the United States of America, is a nation of immigrants past and present. Our founding fathers created America based off of an ideal – that one nation, under God, would be indivisible with liberty and justice for all. An America that is the greatest democratic nation in the history of the world. We must remember that in this America, there is no room for hate. There is no room for injustice. There is no room for fear induced by divisiveness."

EJP