Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 167
CHAPTER 158
Relative to condemning hateful acts and beliefs.
[
Filed with
Secretary of State
August 26, 2004.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 167, Richman.
Condemning hateful acts and beliefs.
This measure would, among other things, repudiate anti-Semitic sentiments expressed by former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamad; commend the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for convening its 2nd conference on anti-Semitism in Berlin, Germany in April 2004; call upon other governments and international bodies to condemn those remarks and any other hateful, discriminatory, and dangerous remarks; deplore the conduct of the international representatives at the October 2003 summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference who expressed support or approval of these remarks, and urge these representatives to also condemn these remarks.
Digest Key
WHEREAS, The California Legislature stands firmly against hatred, racism, prejudice, bigotry, and violence towards all people without regard to race, ethnicity, color, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or gender; and
WHEREAS, There has been a dramatic and troublesome increase in acts of violence against Jewish persons and institutions, especially in Europe and the Middle East in recent years; and
WHEREAS, There has been intensifying hateful rhetoric against Jewish persons that cannot be excused or rationalized, including remarks by the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr. Mahatir Mohamad, who opened the 57-nation, October 2003 summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Malaysia by characterizing Israel and Jewish persons around the world as “the enemy” who “rule the world by proxy”; and
WHEREAS, Among the 57 national representatives in attendance, none raised their voice in protest and many applauded Dr. Mahatir’s statements; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mahatir’s anti-Semitic remarks are despicable and could serve to incite further violence; and
WHEREAS, Further violence has occurred since Dr. Mahatir’s call to action at the Organization of the Islamic Conference; and
WHEREAS, Bombing attacks at two synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey, in November 2003, killed 30 people and wounded at least 450 Jewish worshippers who were at prayer on the Sabbath; and
WHEREAS, Vandals desecrated about 50 graves in a Jewish cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia during February 2004 by painting swastikas and anti-Semitic graffiti on the headstones; and
WHEREAS, In March 2004, an arsonist set fire to a Jewish synagogue in Toulon, France, by breaking a window and throwing a Molotov cocktail into the building; and
WHEREAS, In an interview with the Tehran Times on March 16, 2004, Dr. Mahatir continued to propagate the anti-Semitic myth of the powerful Jew who controls Western governments; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature does all of the following:
(1) Repudiates the anti-Semitic sentiments expressed by Dr. Mahatir, which embodies age-old stereotypes of Jewish global domination and grotesque anti-Semitism on an international scale.
(2) Deplores the conduct of those national representatives in attendance at the October 2003 summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference who expressed support or approval of Dr. Mahatir’s anti-Semitic remarks and urges all summit attendees to condemn the anti-Semitic remarks of Dr. Mahatir and others.
(3) Calls upon other governments and international bodies, notably the European Union, to condemn these remarks and any other hateful and discriminatory remarks against other groups of people as dangerous incitement.
(4) Denounces the violent attacks against Jewish persons and institutions across the globe, all of which make peace in the Middle East and around the world more elusive.
(5) Commends the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for convening its second conference on anti-Semitism in Berlin, Germany in April 2004.
(6) Reaffirms its commitment to fighting all forms of hatred, intolerance, bigotry, racism, and violence, and to speaking out against these heinous beliefs and acts; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.