Denouncing Violent Extremism and the Rise in Hate Crimes Against Minority Communities Since COVID-19
Adopted at the 88th Annual Meeting in 2020
WHEREAS, domestic extremists -- in response to strategies to combat COVID-19, such as stay-at-home orders and closures -- have called for violent opposition to state and federal governments and have issued death threats against governors; and
WHEREAS, domestic extremist groups have rallied armed militias to storm state capitols, prevented legislative sessions from taking place, encouraged COVID-19 positive individuals to intentionally infect police officers, African Americans, and Jewish people, and encouraged members to carry out acts of violence, including a thwarted pipe bomb attack at a "reopen" rally in Colorado and a failed plan to bomb a hospital in Missouri; and
WHEREAS, the extreme right spreads disinformation and conspiracy theories about the pandemic on social media and online gaming platforms, and far-right online groups have grown larger during the lockdown period; and
WHEREAS, discrimination and hate crimes against Asian Americans have risen at an alarming rate in the United States since the start of the pandemic, and internationally, other minority groups have faced discrimination related to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, internationally, countries with conflict, fragile governance, and strained economies may become overwhelmed by the response required to COVID-19 and divert already limited resources away from law enforcement and counterterrorism, exacerbating conditions for terrorist groups to fill leadership vacuums and seize on instability,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors urges cities around the United States and world to come together to address this shared global challenge that is further compounded by COVID-19; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors will work to unite their communities against division, hate, and violence placing principles such as belonging, inclusion, equality, cohesion, peace, and safety at the core of their work; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors will denounce xenophobia and discrimination in all its forms and commit to protecting Asian Americans and all other groups who are targeted by extremist, racist groups; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that to safeguard our citizens, The United States Conference of Mayors urges cities to work with civil society to establish local city strategies to prevent hate, bias, and extremism, to engage with technology and social media companies to implement policies and practices that counter the spread of violent extremist ideology online, while respecting universal human rights, including the freedom of expression.