WHEREAS, On December 7, 2015, the Donald Trump campaign stated in a campaign press release that, “Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of all Muslims entering the United States”; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia, known as the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, was founded on the principle of religious tolerance. William Penn and his fellow Quakers were among the first people to shape modern American values promoting peace and religious tolerance; and
WHEREAS, Freedom of Religion is a fundamental human right, afforded by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which guarantees all individuals the right to freedom of religion, expression, and assembly. Accordingly, individuals have the right to practice and express their religion free from discrimination by the government; and
WHEREAS, The United States is historically a country of immigrants and is currently where many individuals seek new opportunity and refuge from oppressive regimes across the globe; and
WHEREAS, There are 2.6 million Muslims in the United States and 200,000 in Philadelphia, who provide a diversity of perspectives which are valuable to the progression of our multicultural American society; and
WHEREAS, Muslims serve our country in every level of government, armed forces, police and fire departments, and as academic and community leaders, contributing positively to the larger fabric of the community and deserving equal respect and treatment under the law; and
WHEREAS, The United States is a place of cultural diversity and understanding. Accordingly, the exclusion of an entire group of people is contrary to the core principles of our great nation; and
WHEREAS, On Sunday December 6, 2015 a severed pig head was left at a mosque in North Philadelphia – an action fueled by the atmosphere of Islamophobia perpetuated by similar comments to those made by Mr. Trump when he said, “you have to take out their families” and called for the targeting of the families of terrorists; and
WHEREAS, On Tuesday December 9, 2015 local religious and political leaders stood in solidarity in the Mayor’s Reception Room to reject the hateful acts against the Muslim community both locally and nationally and protested the hateful remarks Mr. Trump made; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Trump’s language contributes to xenophobia and Islamophobia and constitutes dangerous speech that is detrimental to the goals of peace, tolerance, and unity; and
WHEREAS, World, national, and local leaders have already condemned Mr. Trump for his hateful words which not only threaten the very principles upon which the United States was founded but also encourage hateful actions by others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby condemns Donald Trump’s remarks regarding the banning of Muslims from entering the United States and calls on Mr. Trump to refrain from making such hateful comments in the City of Philadelphia.
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