Anti-Islamophobia Initiatives
1. Albany County Legislature
New Year's Day, Friday, January 1, noon
Albany County Court House, Legislative Chambers
2nd floor, 16 Lodge St., Albany
*********
ALBANY COUNTY LEGISLATURE:
Proclamation Stating That Albany County Stands with Muslim Residents Against Islamophobia
WHEREAS, throughout its long history, the City and County of Albany have been built on the strength of their ethnic, racial, and religious diversity; and
WHEREAS, the county seat, the City of Albany, is a city of immigrants, with 11.25% of city residents in 2013 born outside of the United States, and is ranked sixth of the 10 top cities in New York State with foreign-born populations1; and
WHEREAS, as of 2014, Muslims represented about 1.5%2 of Albany County’s total estimated population of 308,1713; in 2015, the estimate for the county’s Muslim population was about 3%4; and
WHEREAS, the overall Muslim population in the larger Capital Region/tri-cities is well over 10,000, including immigrants from Turkey, Bosnia, Malaysia, Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, India, and African nations, as well as American-born Muslims, who attend six mosques5, three of them in Albany County; and
WHEREAS, Muslims are integral members of our community and are represented in all professions, from store clerks, laborers, and small business owners to physicians, medical technicians, college professors, chemists, engineers, accountants, artists, musicians, and business leaders; and
WHEREAS, since the Paris terrorist attacks in November 2015, and the San Bernardino terrorist attack in California in December 2015, fear of Muslims has increased nationwide; and
WHEREAS, incidents of violence and hatred against Muslims, and inflammatory comments by public figures, have also increased, with the Council on Islamic-American Relations (CAIR) stating that it “has received more reports about acts of Islamophobic violence, threats, intimidation, and discrimination targeting American Muslims (or those perceived to be Muslim) and Islamic institutions since the Paris attacks than during any other limited period of time since the 9/11 terror attacks”6; and
WHEREAS, in response to the San Bernardino attack, President Obama, in a national televised speech on December 6, rejected the view that there should be a war on Islam; acknowledged that the vast majority of the victims of terrorism are Muslims and that extremists are a “tiny fraction” of Muslims worldwide; and rejected both discrimination against American Muslims and a religious test for those admitted to this country, saying that “Muslim Americans are our friends and neighbors, our co-workers, our sports heroes, and yes, they are our men and women in uniform who are willing to die in defense of our country...;” and
WHEREAS, President Obama also said, “Let’s not forget that freedom is more powerful than fear”;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the undersigned members of the Albany County Legislature, hereby declare that fear will not divide us; that we recognize that the threats posed by Islamophobia to our American values of religious freedom and cultural diversity are threats against our very way of life in Albany County and the United States; and that we as a community stand firmly with our Muslim residents against Islamophobia in all its manifestations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this proclamation be sent to U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Representatives Paul Tonko and Chris Gibson, Governor Andrew Cuomo, State Senator Neil Breslin, State Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, and State Assemblyman Phillip Steck.
2. Albany Common Council
Monday, January 4, 7 p.m.
City Hall, Common Council Chambers
2nd Floor, 24 Eagle St., Albany
ALBANY COMMON COUNCIL:
Council Members Golby, Applyrs, Conti, Doesschate, Fahey, Herring, Igoe, Kimbrough, Kornegay and Krasher, with the support of Council President McLaughlin introduced the following:
Resolution Number 5.11.15R
RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL STATING THAT THE CITY OF ALBANY STANDS WITH MUSLIM RESIDENTS AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA
WHEREAS, throughout its long history, the City of Albany has been built on the strength of its ethnic, racial, and religious diversity; and
WHEREAS, Albany is a city of immigrants. According to U.S. Census data, in 2013, 11.25% of city of Albany residents were born outside of the United States, ranking our city sixth of the top ten cities in New York State with foreign-born populations; and
WHEREAS, as of 2014, Muslims represented about 1.5% of the City of Albany’s total estimated population of 97,856, or nearly 1,500 residents; and
WHEREAS, the regional Muslim population is over 10,000 and includes immigrants from Turkey, Bosnia, Malaysia, Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, India, and African nations, as well as American-born Muslims, who attend six mosques, one of them in the City of Albany; and
WHEREAS, Muslims are integral members of our community, beginning with children attending Albany's schools and adults represented in all professions including city employees, store clerks, laborers, small business owners, physicians, medical technicians, college professors, chemists, engineers, accountants, artists, musicians, and business leaders; and
WHEREAS, since the Paris terrorist attacks in November 2015, and the San Bernardino terrorist attacks in California in December 2015, fear of Muslims has increased nationwide; and
WHEREAS, incidents of violence and hatred against Muslims, and inflammatory comments by public figures, have also increased, with the Council on Islamic-American Relations (CAIR) stating that it “has received more reports about acts of Islamophobic violence, threats, intimidation, and discrimination targeting American Muslims (or those perceived to be Muslim) and Islamic institutions since the Paris attacks than during any other limited period of time since the 9/11 terror attacks; ” and
WHEREAS, there are prejudicial and unjust actions from our nation's history, such as the placement of Japanese residents in internment camps during WWII, that show the harmful and consequential results of blaming an entire group of people based on their race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender for the actions of a small segment of that population; and
WHEREAS, in response to the San Bernardino attack, President Obama, in a national televised speech on December 6, rejected the view that there should be a war on Islam; acknowledged that the vast majority of the victims of terrorism are Muslims and that extremists are a “tiny fraction” of Muslims worldwide; and rejected both discrimination against American Muslims and a religious test for those admitted to this country, saying that “Muslim Americans are our friends and neighbors, our co-workers, our sports heroes, and yes, they are our men and women in uniform who are willing to die in defense of our country...;” and
WHEREAS, President Obama also said, “Let’s not forget that freedom is more powerful than fear.”
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of Albany hereby declares that fear will not divide us; that we recognize that the threats posed by Islamophobia to our American values of religious freedom and cultural diversity are threats against our very way of life in both the City of Albany and the United States; and that we as a community stand firmly with our Muslim residents against Islamophobia in all its manifestations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of Albany requests that the Clerk of this Council forward copies of this resolution to _______________
New Year's Day, Friday, January 1, noon
Albany County Court House, Legislative Chambers
2nd floor, 16 Lodge St., Albany
*********
ALBANY COUNTY LEGISLATURE:
Proclamation Stating That Albany County Stands with Muslim Residents Against Islamophobia
WHEREAS, throughout its long history, the City and County of Albany have been built on the strength of their ethnic, racial, and religious diversity; and
WHEREAS, the county seat, the City of Albany, is a city of immigrants, with 11.25% of city residents in 2013 born outside of the United States, and is ranked sixth of the 10 top cities in New York State with foreign-born populations1; and
WHEREAS, as of 2014, Muslims represented about 1.5%2 of Albany County’s total estimated population of 308,1713; in 2015, the estimate for the county’s Muslim population was about 3%4; and
WHEREAS, the overall Muslim population in the larger Capital Region/tri-cities is well over 10,000, including immigrants from Turkey, Bosnia, Malaysia, Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, India, and African nations, as well as American-born Muslims, who attend six mosques5, three of them in Albany County; and
WHEREAS, Muslims are integral members of our community and are represented in all professions, from store clerks, laborers, and small business owners to physicians, medical technicians, college professors, chemists, engineers, accountants, artists, musicians, and business leaders; and
WHEREAS, since the Paris terrorist attacks in November 2015, and the San Bernardino terrorist attack in California in December 2015, fear of Muslims has increased nationwide; and
WHEREAS, incidents of violence and hatred against Muslims, and inflammatory comments by public figures, have also increased, with the Council on Islamic-American Relations (CAIR) stating that it “has received more reports about acts of Islamophobic violence, threats, intimidation, and discrimination targeting American Muslims (or those perceived to be Muslim) and Islamic institutions since the Paris attacks than during any other limited period of time since the 9/11 terror attacks”6; and
WHEREAS, in response to the San Bernardino attack, President Obama, in a national televised speech on December 6, rejected the view that there should be a war on Islam; acknowledged that the vast majority of the victims of terrorism are Muslims and that extremists are a “tiny fraction” of Muslims worldwide; and rejected both discrimination against American Muslims and a religious test for those admitted to this country, saying that “Muslim Americans are our friends and neighbors, our co-workers, our sports heroes, and yes, they are our men and women in uniform who are willing to die in defense of our country...;” and
WHEREAS, President Obama also said, “Let’s not forget that freedom is more powerful than fear”;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the undersigned members of the Albany County Legislature, hereby declare that fear will not divide us; that we recognize that the threats posed by Islamophobia to our American values of religious freedom and cultural diversity are threats against our very way of life in Albany County and the United States; and that we as a community stand firmly with our Muslim residents against Islamophobia in all its manifestations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this proclamation be sent to U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Representatives Paul Tonko and Chris Gibson, Governor Andrew Cuomo, State Senator Neil Breslin, State Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, and State Assemblyman Phillip Steck.
2. Albany Common Council
Monday, January 4, 7 p.m.
City Hall, Common Council Chambers
2nd Floor, 24 Eagle St., Albany
ALBANY COMMON COUNCIL:
Council Members Golby, Applyrs, Conti, Doesschate, Fahey, Herring, Igoe, Kimbrough, Kornegay and Krasher, with the support of Council President McLaughlin introduced the following:
Resolution Number 5.11.15R
RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL STATING THAT THE CITY OF ALBANY STANDS WITH MUSLIM RESIDENTS AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA
WHEREAS, throughout its long history, the City of Albany has been built on the strength of its ethnic, racial, and religious diversity; and
WHEREAS, Albany is a city of immigrants. According to U.S. Census data, in 2013, 11.25% of city of Albany residents were born outside of the United States, ranking our city sixth of the top ten cities in New York State with foreign-born populations; and
WHEREAS, as of 2014, Muslims represented about 1.5% of the City of Albany’s total estimated population of 97,856, or nearly 1,500 residents; and
WHEREAS, the regional Muslim population is over 10,000 and includes immigrants from Turkey, Bosnia, Malaysia, Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, India, and African nations, as well as American-born Muslims, who attend six mosques, one of them in the City of Albany; and
WHEREAS, Muslims are integral members of our community, beginning with children attending Albany's schools and adults represented in all professions including city employees, store clerks, laborers, small business owners, physicians, medical technicians, college professors, chemists, engineers, accountants, artists, musicians, and business leaders; and
WHEREAS, since the Paris terrorist attacks in November 2015, and the San Bernardino terrorist attacks in California in December 2015, fear of Muslims has increased nationwide; and
WHEREAS, incidents of violence and hatred against Muslims, and inflammatory comments by public figures, have also increased, with the Council on Islamic-American Relations (CAIR) stating that it “has received more reports about acts of Islamophobic violence, threats, intimidation, and discrimination targeting American Muslims (or those perceived to be Muslim) and Islamic institutions since the Paris attacks than during any other limited period of time since the 9/11 terror attacks; ” and
WHEREAS, there are prejudicial and unjust actions from our nation's history, such as the placement of Japanese residents in internment camps during WWII, that show the harmful and consequential results of blaming an entire group of people based on their race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender for the actions of a small segment of that population; and
WHEREAS, in response to the San Bernardino attack, President Obama, in a national televised speech on December 6, rejected the view that there should be a war on Islam; acknowledged that the vast majority of the victims of terrorism are Muslims and that extremists are a “tiny fraction” of Muslims worldwide; and rejected both discrimination against American Muslims and a religious test for those admitted to this country, saying that “Muslim Americans are our friends and neighbors, our co-workers, our sports heroes, and yes, they are our men and women in uniform who are willing to die in defense of our country...;” and
WHEREAS, President Obama also said, “Let’s not forget that freedom is more powerful than fear.”
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of Albany hereby declares that fear will not divide us; that we recognize that the threats posed by Islamophobia to our American values of religious freedom and cultural diversity are threats against our very way of life in both the City of Albany and the United States; and that we as a community stand firmly with our Muslim residents against Islamophobia in all its manifestations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of Albany requests that the Clerk of this Council forward copies of this resolution to _______________