RESOLUTION 25-4809
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MURRIETA, CALIFORNIA DECLARING THE CITY’S STANCE AGAINST ANTISEMITISM WHEREAS, the City of Murrieta has a vibrant Jewish community and rich Jewish American history; and WHEREAS, the Jewish people have maintained a unique ethnic, religious, social, and cultural identity, as well as a diverse ethnic history that spans more than 3,000 years, creating a vibrant and diverse community; experiencing everything from acceptance and prosperity to hatred and discrimination in the United States; and WHEREAS, as members of an ethno-religious group, citizens and students who identify as Jewish across the community, including at local schools, come from many different racial and ethnic backgrounds, immigrant communities, levels of religiosity, and more; and WHEREAS, no individual or group within our City should fear becoming a target of discrimination, retaliation, derision, bullying, isolation, or violence; and WHEREAS, there has been a reported rise in hate crimes; and WHEREAS, this discrimination and racism, has not only generated heated rhetoric, but has resulted in harassment, vandalism, physical assaults, emotional trauma, and worse; and WHEREAS, reports of white supremacist, antisemitic, anti-Jewish, and anti-Israeli graffiti, bullying, harassment, and violence on school and college campuses have been on the rise for the past four years, and administrators, teachers, and student leaders need updated and readily available training and resources to prevent and address antisemitism in all its forms; and WHEREAS, property and vandalism crimes against Jewish places of worship and community centers, and physical assaults against people who “look Jewish” or dine at restaurants frequented by Jewish people have increased significantly over the past year since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by the U.S.-designated terror group Hamas; and WHEREAS, these hate crimes showed how anti-Zionism and anti-Israel bias can descend into antisemitism, when they promote demonization, discriminatory double standards, and/or delegitimization of Israel and its existence; and WHEREAS, these hate crimes were denounced by both President Biden and President Trump, a bi-partisan majority of Congress, and faith leaders from across the Southern California region; and WHEREAS, the White House Administration and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights have adopted the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) “Working Definition” of anti-Semitism as a starting point in the fight against antisemitism; and WHEREAS, the IHRA working of definition is: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities;” and WHEREAS, the definition of antisemitism is an important educational tool to address anti-Semitism old and new, from across the political spectrum.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MURRIETA, CALIFORNIA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
The recitals above are true and correct and incorporated herein by this reference.
That the City of Murrieta denounces the rise in antisemitic rhetoric and hate-motivated crimes and incidents that denigrate Jewish residents.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 4 day of February, 2025.
Cindy Warren, Mayor
ATTEST:
Cristal McDonald, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Tiffany J. Israel, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE )§
CITY OF MURRIETA )
I, Cristal McDonald, City Clerk of the City of Murrieta, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 25-4809 was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Murrieta at the regular meeting thereof, held on the 4th day of February, 2025, and was signed by the Mayor of the said City, and that the same was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Cristal McDonald, City Clerk
01375.0001/1043909.1
01375.0001/1043909.1