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<br /> 4�UTNe�O
<br /> A.
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<br /> IE
<br /> • 1865
<br /> BILL NO. 19-02
<br /> RESOLUTION NO. 4707-19
<br /> A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND,INDIANA CALLING FOR
<br /> THE ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION ADDRESSING HATE CRIMES IN THE STATE OF INDIANA
<br /> licioasi, the City of South Bend is proud of, and celebrates, the diversity of its citizens; and it is a priority
<br /> for our community to welcome and promote diversity among its citizens, visitors, and businesses; and
<br /> 9 the South Bend Common Council desires to publicly declare its condemnation of
<br /> discrimination in any form and to encourage people of varying and diverse backgrounds to call South Bend in
<br /> St. Joseph County within the broader South Bend Elkhart region in the State of Indiana their home; and
<br /> Offwaii, by definition, hate crimes cause damage more extensive than the suffering of the specific victim,
<br /> because they serve to terrorize entire groups of people. Therefore, the terror associated with hatefully motivated
<br /> speech, actions, and/or crimes targeting groups based on characteristics that include, but are not limited to,
<br /> religion, national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, color, race, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation,
<br /> disability,medical condition, status as a public safety official or service in the armed forces of the United States,
<br /> or association with any recognizable group or affiliation, or similar factors is such that these crimes should be
<br /> addressed specifically in Indiana's criminal code; and
<br /> forty-five (45) states and the District of Columbia have enacted hate crime legislation, and
<br /> Indiana is one (1) of only five(5) states in the United States that does not have such legislation; and
<br /> If‘wasi,being one(1) of only five(5) states without such legislation diminishes the reputation of the
<br /> State of Indiana in general, along with the reputations of each of its political subdivisions, damaging the ability
<br /> to attract and retain the best individuals, businesses, and workforce to reside in and enhance our state; and
<br /> Affmtai, state-wide legislation addressing hate crimes will promote a welcoming and safe environment
<br /> for every resident and visitor of our state, allowing Indiana to signal its commitment to diversity and freedom
<br /> through the advanced protections and increased penalties associated with comprehensive hate crime legislation;
<br /> and
<br /> the South Bend Common Council maintains that the future success of South Bend and its
<br /> surrounding cities and towns depends upon promoting a secure, safe, and diverse environment for all residents
<br /> and visitors, free of the fear associated with hatefully motivated speech, actions, and/or crimes; and
<br /> Offeeptrai, the South Bend Common Council desires to join with the legislative bodies of other cities and
<br /> towns who have already passed, or will soon pass, resolutions in support of enacting state-wide legislation
<br /> addressing hate crimes; and wishes to align with the growing number of over seven-hundred(700)plus
<br /> businesses, not-for-profits, educational institutions, and faith communities across Indiana calling for this needed
<br /> change; and
<br /> the South Bend Common Council agrees with Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb who has stated
<br /> that "No law can stop evil, but we should be clear that our state stands with the victims, and their voices will not
<br /> be silenced. . . it is my intent that we get something done this next legislative session, so Indiana can be one
<br /> (1) of forty-six (46) states with hate crimes legislation- and not one(1) of five(5) without it";and
<br /> the purpose of this Resolution is to express the policy and/or intent of the Common Council.
<br /> ora, g/'�x xe, le it regokert *de ceeoininan calmed?tie 'v' g/( idl rq0snd fnAl/ria, aVol�acets:
<br /> Section I. The South Bend Common Council supports the need for clear, inclusionary, and
<br /> comprehensive state-wide hate crime legislation and urges the Indiana General Assembly to pass such
<br /> legislation in the 2019 legislative session.
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