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REGULAR MEETING January 14, 2019
<br /> whatever you are like, you should be able to feel safe in this community. No one should live and
<br /> no one should walk in fear because of what they believe,how they worship, who they love, where
<br /> they are from, what they look like or any other such consideration. I hope the Council will take
<br /> this opportunity and I will enthusiastically sign it as one (1) more way to send the message that
<br /> hate has no home in South Bend, Indiana.
<br /> Rabbi Karen Companez,305 West Madison Street,South Bend, IN,stated,Thank you for allowing
<br /> me to speak here this evening in support of this very important resolution. I am the Rabbi for
<br /> Temple Beth-El, the reform Jewish Temple here in town, and I have more members here this
<br /> evening than I usually do at my services so perhaps we will meet here every second(2nd)and fourth
<br /> (4th)Monday,if you don't mind.You are all welcomed to join.This resolution supports the passage
<br /> of a hateful or biased crimes law by the Indiana Legislature. This bill is not a bill about what
<br /> anyone is allowed to think. It is a bill to stiffen the penalties that can be legally imposed when a
<br /> crime is determined to have been committed motivated by hatred for a person based on having
<br /> certain characteristics such as their race, sexuality, their country of origin, gender identity or their
<br /> religion, amongst others. When a hate crimes bill is passed in Indiana, Hoosier will still be free to
<br /> think whatever they would like,just not so free to commit crimes based on thoughts coming from
<br /> a place of hatred without the potential consequence of firm and decisive punishment. Jews are
<br /> commanded in the Torah,in the Bible,to `tzedek,tzedek tirdof,' `justice,justice shall you pursue'.
<br /> The lawful possibility of strengthening penalties for people who commit crimes based on hatred
<br /> of people because of certain unchangeable characteristics is what the hate crimes bill is all about.
<br /> It is about justice and that is why we are pursuing it. The Board of Trustees of Temple Beth-El
<br /> recently passed the following resolution:
<br /> Rabbi Karen Companez quoted, Whereas, Recent events in the State of Indiana and other states in
<br /> this country have heightened this congregation's awareness of the continuing threat of acts
<br /> predicated by hate and anti-Semitism; and, Whereas, By definition, hate crimes cause damage
<br /> more extensive than the suffering of a specific victim because they serve to terrorize entire groups
<br /> of people and, therefore, the terror associated with hatefully motivated actions and/or crimes
<br /> targeting groups based on characteristics that include, but are not limited to, religion, national
<br /> origin,ethnicity,color,race,gender identity, sexual orientation,disability or similar factors is such
<br /> that these crimes should be addressed specifically in Indiana's Criminal Code; and, Whereas,
<br /> Indiana is one (1) of only five (5) states without a hateful biased crimes law; and, Whereas, The
<br /> Board of Trustees of Temple Beth-El desires to publicly declare its condemnation of any
<br /> discrimination against any group as noted above, particularly of a violent or a destructive nature.
<br /> Now, therefore, be it resolved by Temple Beth-El and its Rabbi and subgroups may speak in
<br /> Temple Beth-El's name to support hate crimes legislation at the local and state levels and to join
<br /> with other allies in the community who are also working to urge the Indiana General Assembly,
<br /> or local Councils, to pass hate crimes legislation. This includes allowing Temple's name to be
<br /> displayed as a member of alliances such as Indiana Forward or Indiana Alliance Against Hate in
<br /> their campaign materials.
<br /> Rabbi Karen Companez continued, This resolution was unanimously passed by Temple Beth-El's
<br /> Board of Trustees and I respectfully urge this body, the South Bend Common Council,to pass the
<br /> resolution that is currently before it on this issue that is important to all of us. Thank you.
<br /> Samantha Musleh, 51244 Outer Drive, South Bend, IN, stated, Good evening and thank you
<br /> Council Members for holding this meeting. Thank you, also, for allowing me the opportunity to
<br /> speak in front of you tonight. I was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. I am an active member
<br /> of the Islamic Society of Michiana and an AmeriCorps member at the University of Notre Dame.
<br /> As an AmeriCorps member, I have dedicated this year of my life to service to our community. I
<br /> run an `English As A New Language' Pre-school at the Robinson Center. I am a daughter, wife,
<br /> mother and an educator. Unfortunately, despite my contributions, I have experienced hate in my
<br /> community because of my religion. I have a place in this country. I, my husband, my four (4)
<br /> daughters, my students, we all have a right to feel safe and included in our community. The hate
<br /> that I've experienced should never be tolerated. My children should not live in fear of who they
<br /> are because of the actions of others. We need this bill to protect the America that I see every day.
<br /> Hard-working families, from all over the world, come to this country because it is the land of the
<br /> free, for all, where hate and intolerance should not be accepted. I teach a beautiful and diverse
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