CITY HALL — A majority of Chicago aldermen Wednesday endorsed a measure condemning hate speech against Muslims, immigrants and people of color.
Proposed by the City Council's Progressive Caucus, the resolution would add Chicago's voice to a campaign organized by Local Progress, an organization made up of elected officials from across the country, against "hate and anti-Muslim bigotry."
The push began in July as the rhetoric around the presidential election began to give rise to violence against Muslims and immigrants across the country, Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) said.
"It is a way for many cities to condemn this kind of hate targeted against immigrants and all people of color," Waguespack said.
It was a coincidence that the measure, which has been in the works for several weeks, was introduced the morning after Republican businessman-turned-politician Donald Trump was elected president, Waguespack said.
During his campaign, Trump promised to block Muslims from the country and to build a wall to prevent immigrants from reaching America from Mexico. That rhetoric sparked the Local Progress campaign, Waguespack said.
Those statements remain "unacceptable," Waguespack said.
"For many immigrants, Chicago is the first stop in America on their way to somewhere else," Waguespack said. "This is way to say we will stand up for them and open our arms."
In the wake of Trump's victory, Waguespack said reports of a surge in the number of racially motivated bullying had been "making me sick."
Waguespack said he hoped the measure would provide a measure of comfort for the Chicagoans Mayor Rahm Emanuel said were "despondent" over Trump's victory.
Chicago City Council Immigrant Resolution by The Daily Line on Scribd
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