RESOLUTION NO. __________
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CHULA VISTA RECOGNIZING THE GROWING PROBLEM
OF ANTISEMITISM IN THE UNITED STATES , A DOPTING
THE INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE
ALLIANCE (“IHRA”) WORKING DEFINITION OF
ANTISEMITISM AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO
ENSURE THAT THE IHRA WORKING DEFINITION OF
ANTISEMITISM IS AVAILABLE AS AN EDUCATION
RESOURCE FOR CITY DEPARTMENTS TO ADDRESS
ANTISEMITISM AND ALL OTHER FORMS OF
DISCRIMINATION DIRECTED TOWARD ANYONE WITHIN
CHULA VISTA
WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista is committed to combating discrimination, as reflected in Chula Vista Municipal Code Section 2.36.020; and
WHEREAS, Chula Vista is home to a diverse community who have enriched our City with their unique cultural traditions, entrepreneurial spirit, and valuable contributions to the social and economic fabric of our community; and
WHEREAS, the City embraces its diverse population and is committed to promoting anti- discrimination policies and practices to ensure all residents, including minority groups, refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers, feel safe, valued, and welcome; and
WHEREAS, antisemitism, including harassment based on a ctual or perceived Jewish origin, ancestry, ethnicity, identity, affiliation, or faith, remains a persistent problem in American society; and
WHEREAS, Jews continue to be a targeted minority in the United States and are consistently the most likely of all religious groups to be victimized by incidents of hate, and such incidents are increasing; and
WHEREAS, local governments have a responsibility to protect citizens from acts of hate and bigotry, including antisemitism, and must be given the tools to do so; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista condemns any local school district curriculum, State or Federal legislation, that denies teaching the atrocities of the Holocaust; and
WHEREAS, valid monitoring, informed analysis and investigation, and effective policy making all benefit from accurate and uniform definitions; and
WHEREAS, in May 2016, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (“IHRA”), by consensus vote of its member states, adopted a Working Definition of Antisemitism, which has Resolution No.
become the internationally recognized, authoritative definition for use by governments and international organizations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista, that it, as follows:
1. The recitals and findings contained in this Resolution are hereby adopted by reference and incorporated herein.
2. The City of Chula Vista recognizes the growing problem of antisemitism in the United States and adopts the Working Definition of Antisemitism, which reads: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetori cal and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non -Jewish individuals and/or their property, towards Jewish community institutions and religious facilities,” and includes contemporary examples of antisemitism, adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) on May 26, 2016, as an important tool to address antisemitism.
3. The City Council directs the City Manager to ensure that the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism is available as an education resource for City departments to address antisemitism and other forms of discrimination to ensure that all residents, including minority groups, refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers, feel safe, valued, and welcomed.
4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
Resolution No.
Presented by Approved as to form by
John McCann Marco A. Verdugo
Mayor City Attorney