Recognizing and acknowledging the victims of the mass shooting at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Center, condemning religious intolerance and Islamophobia, and affirming support for Philadelphia's Muslim Community.

WHEREAS, On Sunday, January 29, 2017, a gunman opened fire at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Center, killing six men and wounding five others; and

WHEREAS, The shooting had followed acts of harassment and bigotry directed at the mosque that ranged from hate mail to swastikas painted on its doors and a pig’s head left on its front doorstep; and

WHEREAS, Canada, where mass shootings are uncommon, has become known as a beacon for refugees fleeing warfare and terrorism in Muslim-majority nations; and

WHEREAS, For observant Muslims, mosques are central to devotional life; serving as place of worship, education, refuge, and vitality to the community; and

WHEREAS, The Muslim-American Community saw a significant increase in reported hate crimes in 2015, with a 67 percent surge in crimes against Muslims and Islamic centers; and

WHEREAS, Since November 8, 2016, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said at least 100 attacks against Muslims have been reported, a show of violence only comparable to hate crime statistics directly after the attacks of September 11, 2001; and

WHEREAS, It is critical that law enforcement agencies across the country protect Islamic centers and Muslims openly practicing their faith in the face of increased violence and anti-Muslim sentiment; and

WHEREAS, In the face of extreme bigotry and violence, American Muslim communities and their leaders are using the language and teachings of Islam to promote peace while continuing to make significant contributions to the social, economic, and cultural fabric of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Muslims, like members of all religious backgrounds, should be treated with the dignity, care, and compassion that every human being deserves, irrespective of faith; and

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia, through its Fair Practices Ordinance and anti-hate crime statute, has established comprehensive legal protections against discrimination and bears a special responsibility to ensure that its residents can worship freely and without fear of recrimination and violence; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

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Recognize and acknowledge the victims of the mass shooting at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Center, condemning religious intolerance and Islamophobia, and affirm support for Philadelphia’s Muslim community.

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