citycell Responding to Hatred in a Welcoming City: A Message from Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe

Please watch and share this video by Mayor Lauren Poe about responding to hatred in a welcoming city. #GNVUnited

"Responding to Hatred in a Welcoming Community
We in Gainesville find ourselves confronted with some of the same challenges and concerns that our nation has faced since its inception. A small group of people who promote a misinformed worldview centered on racism, bigotry and hatred is descending upon our welcoming city. They hope to undermine our support for diversity and inclusion by spreading their toxic message of hate.

While many of us would prefer to keep them from ever coming to our city and university in the first place, the Supreme Court is rather clear on their right to be here on equal terms as any other group. The ACLU, American Bar Association and other leading civil liberties and legal scholars agree. We now must decide how we respond to hatred and racism as a unified community.

As a community, we must not allow such vile views to go unchecked and our right to confront and refute such hateful and evil speech must be exercised. This is the right of every citizen and the right shall be protected. In his address to the cadets of the United States Air Force Academy, Superintendent Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria now famously said in response to racist vandalism at the prep school, ''The only way to defeat a horrible idea is with a good idea.' We have good ideas in Gainesville and we are ready to use them to defeat the horrible ideas of racism.

There is the possibility that outside groups will descend upon our city, not to engage in free speech and protest, but to incite violence and seed chaos. We must not let them do so. This is our moment to rise up and show the rest of the world who we are as a community. Free speech stops when it becomes dangerous conduct. We have an obligation to protect our residents' health and safety and protect property. These outside agents will all disappear and return to their own communities, caring nothing about the aftermath of their violence. The role of law enforcement is to ensure public safety and they will stand ready to safeguard that Gainesville does not become another Charlottesville, or worse.

I have complete faith that our community is ready. We know that our city will come together in an overwhelming show of unity. We are confident that we will stand indivisible against hatred and offer an anti-racist alternative for the nation to follow. In order for this to happen, we must stand against violence and for the positive peaceful association of determined citizens. Let us show the world what we stand for, and not just what we stand against, and let us do so peacefully, affirmatively and courageously.

Thank you."

citycell Responding to Hatred in a Welcoming City: A Message from Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe
5 Likes	5 Dislikes
234 views views	465 followers
News & Politics	Upload TimePublished on 12 Oct 2017

Related keywords

gainesville movie theater,gainesville restaurants,city inn khulna,community manager empleo,gainesville ga,gainesville police department,gainesville airport,community manager cordoba,community serie,city hospital,community day,gainesville fl,city bank career,gainesville tx,citibank branch,community manager curso,citibank credit card,community management,community manager utn,community manager,city bank amex card,community manager siglo 21,city hunter,city college dhaka,gainesville times,community shield,gainesville fl weather,community manager rosario,city college,gainesville sun,city of lies,gainesville middle school,city group,gainesville 治安,gainesville georgia,gainesville news,community manager argentina,community college,city touch,community manager trabajo,community online,gainesville florida,city of god,city university bangladesh,community manager carrera,city bank bd,city bank job circular,gainesville health and fitness,community manager curso gratis,city university,community manager uba,city corporation,gainesville ripper,gainesville weather,gainesville hotel,community manager que hace,gainesville va,community manager freelance,citibank,