Resolution 160313

..Title Acknowledging and recognizing the American Jewish Committee (AJC) for their Mayors United Against Anti-Semitism Initiative and commending Mayor James F. Kenney for his support of this initiative by adding his name to the list of more than 300 U.S. Mayors and Municipal Leaders from 48 states and the District of Columbia who have supported this important initiative. ..Body WHEREAS, For more than a century, AJC has been the leading global Jewish advocacy organization with offices across the United States and around the globe working to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and to advance human rights and democratic values for all; and WHEREAS, Anti-Semitism is prejudice against, hatred of, or discrimination against Jews on the pretext of ethnic, religious or racial considerations and is not only an attack on Jews but an assault on the core values of any democratic and pluralistic society; and WHEREAS, In a world of global communications where anti-Semitic ideas can and do spread rapidly, the impact of the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe does not stop at Europe's borders and when the fundamental values of democracy are challenged, a concerted and principled response is required; and WHEREAS, AJC's Mayors United Against Anti-Semitism Initiative is an effort to engage Mayors and Municipal Leaders in order to get them to commit to working within and across their communities to advance the values of respectful co-existence and to affirm that anti-Semitism is incompatible with fundamental democratic values; and WHEREAS, To date, the initiative has drawn support from more than 300 U.S. Mayors and Municipal Leaders from 48 states and the District of Columbia representing nearly 82 million people; and WHEREAS, AJC's European offices and partners have also secured support from more than 70 Mayors from 20 European nations, representing nearly 45 million people, making this the largest public statement against anti-Semitism in history; and WHEREAS, This is truly a global effort and communities large and small have a role to play in assuring that anti-Semitism is clearly and loudly rejected as wholly incompatible with pluralistic, democratic societies where we must advance values of respect and co-existence; and WHEREAS, This is especially important in the City of Philadelphia given our diverse population, which includes a Jewish population of approximately 214,700 and our founding principles - welcoming acceptance, tolerance and appreciation of diversity - set forth by Founding Father William Penn; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Council of the City of Philadelphia acknowledges and recognizes the American Jewish Committee (AJC) for their Mayors United Against Anti-Semitism Initiative and commending Mayor James F. Kenney for his support of this initiative by adding his name to the list of more than 300 U.S. Mayors and Municipal Leaders from 48 states and the District of Columbia who have supported this important initiative. ..End