Leon County Commission Adopts ADL Resolution Against Hate & Extremism

Leon County Commission Adopts ADL Resolution Against Hate & Extremism

The Leon County Commission voted unanamously to adopt a resolution proposed by the adoption of an Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) resolution condemning hate and extremism at the June 8th meeting.

Responding to concerns that the resolution does not address hate related to Christianity, County Commissioner Kristen Dozier said she believed that the resolution covers all religions.

The resolution specifically addresses antisemitism and hate directed at Islam, however does not address hate related to Christianity.

Origins of Request

Recently, the ADL contacted the County about adopting a resolution their group created condemning hate and extremism in response to the attack on the national’s Capitol on January 6, 2021.

The ADL is an international nonprofit and anti-hate organization founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of antisemitism and bigotry. The ADL’s mission statement is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people, and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.”

At the February 25, 2020 meeting, at the request of the Tallahassee-Leon County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, the Board approved a resolution for Leon County Government to join the ADL’s Florida Hate Crime Coalition. The Coalition was established in 2016 to support state legislation that would expand the definition of hate crimes by adding gender and gender identification to Florida Statutes governing the identification and prosecution of hate crimes.

The Resolution

The Leon County staff analysis of the ADL request states that “ADL is requesting that local government bodies denounce the attack on the national’s Capitol on January 6, 2021 as an act of ‘domestic terrorism’ and reaffirm a commitment to cultivating an inclusive community, including within the County’s operations and institutions.”

In condemning the attack, the ADL cites its 2019 report “Murder and Extremism” in the United States which found that 90% extremist-related murders were linked to right-wing extremists, with the majority committed by white supremacists.

The ADL further links the attack on the Capital to online conspiracy theories, such as QAnon, that aim to spread and inspire real-world violence. Consequently, the proposed resolution includes language denouncing the following:

•anti-government extremism, white supremacy, racism, antisemitism, misogyny, Islamophobia, anti-LGBTQ+ hate, ableism, and all hateful speech and bias-motivated violent actions in our community;

•extremist conspiracy theories, misinformation, and disinformation that cultivate an alienated and mistrustful electorate, undermine democratic institutions and processes, and increase the likelihood of violence; and

•attempts to exploit governmental procedure and basic government functions for personal political gain

In addition to denouncing the attack on the Capitol and the contributing factors as identified by the ADL, the resolution commits the Board to the following actions:

•countering hate and extremism by offering an ongoing public lecture series on anti-bias and anti-racist strategies;

•countering hate and extremism through engagement with community leaders, governmental transparency and public information-sharing regarding efforts to fight extremism, and encouraging the investigation and prosecution of those who commit criminal acts, consistent with civil liberties protections; and

•Urging residents to adopt these values in their own lives, calling attention to these harms, and denouncing hate and extremism to help keep us all safe.

Staff notes that no Florida counties have adopted ADL’s resolution. However, the resolution has been adopted by several cities including Bay Harbor Islands, Cooper City, Coral Springs, Hallandale Beach, Pembroke Pines, and Sunny Isles Beach.

10 Responses to "Leon County Commission Adopts ADL Resolution Against Hate & Extremism"

  1. “The Coalition was established in 2016 to support state legislation that would expand the definition of hate crimes by adding gender and gender identification to Florida Statutes governing the identification and prosecution of hate crimes.” ………………. And THERE is the Rub as they say…….”gender identification “. Boys feeling like they are a Girl are STILL Boys. You can install FAKE Boobs, take Pills to stop things from Growing, it doesn’t change the FACT that you are a BOY. If becoming a Transgender Girl makes it easier for you to accept yourself as being Gay, then so be it but, you are STILL a Boy.

  2. Wouldent life be grand if we could solve anything by a resolution?
    Well childern on the commission you cant ever solve anything by a resolution.
    Idiots.

  3. And another thing… I live in Indian Head Acres, and it sounded like the gunfight at the OK Corral over at FAMU/ Orange Avenue last night about 9pm. There was a running gun battle taking place for at least 10 minutes. Close to a hundred rounds were put down range.

    Now those idiots on the commission can condemn whatever the hell they want, but it doesn’t change the fact that our county is going to you know where fast under their watch.

    I hear gunfire coming from that direction every night, so why don’t those moron’s try doing something about the crime that is plaguing our county RIGHT NOW?!!!!!

    Y’all don’t know how much I hate those dolts…

    P.S. I never here it coming from the other direction (Southwood). Just sayin’…

  4. I don’t need the ADL or the Leon county commission lecturing me on anything, they are all a bunch of immoral crooks who sleep with each others wives, they don’t know right from wrong, they’ll say and do anything.
    Everyone would be a lot happier if they were to just shut up and count the piles of money we pay them for their no-show, no count jobs!

    I really hate those guys…

  5. Why not concentrate on reducing crime, homelessness, reviving the economy and responsible development? They go down these rabbit trails of left political agendas and take their focus off the important things. The mayor and sheriff making TV ads even paying his campaign manager taxpayer dollars.

    There needs to be an ethics complaint filed against the sheriff and the mayor for these irresponsible tv ads disguised as public service announcements at the same time a little innocent boy is shot by out-of-control crime.

    More irresponsible leadership that is illegal, immoral, and corrupt.

  6. “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12 ?s?).

  7. This resolution goes way beyond stupid. They are asking the County Commission to condemn murders by right wing white supremacist …but murders by left wing arsonist and looters apparently is ok. What good little elected democrat would not vote for that? How about a substitute resolution urging all citizens to love God with all their heart and their neighbors as themselves ? I fear the motion for that resolution would not get a second.

  8. Completely inexcusable and unacceptable. The ADL (Anti-Democracy Lemmings) has morphed into yet another feckless propaganda arm of the Progressive Party of Hate and Violence. If the County Commission supports this Exclusion Resolution of Bigotry… they should, every one of them, be recalled and banned from ever holding public office again. As for the ADL itself…

    Like I always say; no matter how you arrange the letters D E M O C R A T… it will always spell HYPOCRITE

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