Thankful: Community comes together to take stand against hate

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The rain may have kept some people away, but spirits weren't dampened for those who took place in the Unity Walk along Lake Tahoe Boulevard.

About 80 people, young and old, made the walk from the Lake Tahoe Unified School District parking lot to Champion’s Plaza. At the plaza, Mayor Cristi Creegan and others spoke about what it meant that the community was taking a stand against hate.

“The importance of coming together and showing support for one another is crucial, especially with the increase in hate we've witnessed not only in the U.S. but globally. This event provides an excellent opportunity for our community to recognize that hatred, discrimination, and prejudice have no place here and to show support for targeted groups and all residents. Our goal as a city is to promote a welcoming and inclusive community for all, this week, and every week, and this is one way to acknowledge this intention,” stated Creegan.

United Against Hate Week emerged from a United Against Hate poster campaign created by Bay Area cities in response to white supremacist rallies in Berkeley and San Francisco in 2017.

The original 13 communities were convened again in 2018 by Not In Our Town, a national anti-hate organization and partner in the LA vs Hate campaign, and committed to an annual week of action and awareness.

Since its inception, United Against Hate Week has spread to over 200 communities including all of Los Angeles County, faith-based groups, LGBTQ and human rights organizations, and is beginning to take off throughout California and in communities across the U.S.

The proclamation that read by Mayor Creegan at Champion's Plaza and during this week's city council meeting:

City of South Lake Tahoe
Proclamation
Recognizing “Hate Has No Place in South Lake Tahoe”
November 21, 2023

Whereas, the City of South Lake Tahoe in the County of El Dorado, California, stands for respect for all people, including all groups as defined by race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, caste, or any characteristic; and

Whereas, we stand for honor of all traditions and cultures that compose our American democracy and common life; and

Whereas, we reject hate in all forms, and we choose compassion and justice to create a prejudice-free community; and

Whereas, we collectively promote respect, embrace human difference, and elevate our common values to enable our residents to live, work, and thrive with belonging and without fear; and

Whereas, we acknowledge that “hate” is intense hostility or ill will that defies the humanity of both those who are hated and those who hate; and that courageous action taken to dispel hate has the potential to encourage the
humanity within all people and groups of people; and

Whereas, we know that “prejudice” is belief formed without actual experience and without reasonable basis, and that hateful prejudice de-humanizes through stereotyping, demonization, oversimplification, and other abusive
ideas and actions, including hate speech; and

Whereas, we acknowledge “hate speech” as abusive or threatening speech or writing that expresses prejudice and hate; and

Whereas, we know that “antisemitism” is hate toward people who are Jewish, and that antisemitism de-humanizes individuals through stereotyping, demonization, oversimplification, and other abusive ideas and actions, including hate speech; and

Whereas, we acknowledge that antisemitic hate speech was promulgated at the September 26, 2023, meeting of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors, during public comment by individuals via Zoom technology; and

Whereas, we denounce hate in all forms, including antisemitic forms; and
1. pledge to stand up against hate, discrimination, and violence in all forms and support victims of hate incidents, including hate speech;
2. encourage open dialogue and respectful conversations to bridge divides and promote understanding across individuals and groups of people;
3. celebrate the richness of our community and the strength that human variety brings to our city;
4. commit to working together, in partnership with all civic bodies to create a prejudice-free, safe, and healthy environment for all people.

Therefore, the City Council of the City of South Lake Tahoe do hereby proclaim that “Hate Has No Place in South Lake Tahoe”, at all times and in all places, and call upon government officials and all citizens and visitors
to create a prejudice-free, safe, and healthy environment for all people.