Zero-Tolerance Policy on Hate Is Unveiled

Wearing buttons reading “No Hate,” City Council members Monday declared a zero-tolerance policy toward racially motivated crimes and called on the entire community to join the campaign.

More than 100 school officials, clergy and residents were on hand as each council member read a portion of a statement urging citizens to respect the dignity of all people.

“This is a public declaration . . . an affirmation that we all privately believe,” Councilman Peter M. Green said.

Mayor Dave Sullivan added that everyone is created equal and that “we will not tolerate infringement of people’s rights.”

The copy of the statement was unveiled in the council chambers and will hang on the wall next to the dais.

Rusty Kennedy, executive director of the Orange County Human Relations Commission, said that, “unfortunately, hate crimes exist,” adding that 175 incidents were reported last year in the county.

Huntington Beach has had a number of racially motivated incidents, most recently the stabbing of a Native American man and the murder of an African American man.

“With this pledge against hate,” Kennedy said, and community initiative, the city can “turn the tide.”

Rabbi Aron David Berkowitz of Congregation Adat Israel was among those who expressed their support. Residents must “stand up and fight for the rights of all human beings,” he said, because basic respect is “the bedrock of civilization.”