In order to reinforce the commitment to diversity and respect for the rights of each individual and community, Cupertino Mayor Hung Wei issued a proclamation on behalf of the City Council to oppose discrimination in all its forms.
Amid a wave of violence against the Asian community, Wei signed the statement after the Cupertino Council meeting on July 18.
The document states that the City of Cupertino values its commitment to diversity and believes that the principles of human rights and equal protection against discrimination apply to all sections and communities of the City.
He further notes that the city takes immense pride in the fact that nearly 70 percent of Cupertino's population is Asian-American; and it is the obligation of city councilors to do everything possible to foster a climate of inclusion and dignity for all people, regardless of their origin and ethnicity.
"The City Council of Cupertino hereby PROCLAIMS that the City opposes discrimination in all its forms and will vigorously oppose any law that could, intentionally or not, lead to racial or ethnic profiling, civil rights violations, or the stigmatization of any segment of our society," the document states.
In addition to this, he stressed that the city opposes any law that could, intentionally or not, contribute to the stigmatization or stereotyping of any group through the use of terms with negative connotations such as "caste."
In May of this year, in response to the rise in hate crimes, Governor Gavin Newsom, in conjunction with the California Department of Civil Rights (CRD), announced the official launch of CA vs Hate, a multilingual statewide hotline and website that provides a safe and anonymous reporting option for victims and witnesses of hate acts.
CA vs Hate is a direct response to the rise in reported hate crimes in California, which in recent years hit its highest levels since 2001, jumping nearly 33 percent from 2020 to 2021.
CA vs Hate also seeks to overcome reporting challenges, whether due to fear of retaliation, lack of trust, or other issues, by offering hate subjects a community-focused approach that requires no engagement with the criminal legal system.
The CA vs Hate Resource Line and Network is a hotline and online portal for reporting non-emergency hate crimes and incidents. Reports can be made anonymously by calling (833) 866-4283 or 833-8-NO-HATE, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., or online anytime.
People who want to report a hate crime to the police immediately or are in imminent danger can call 911. For more information on CA vs Hate, visit the website www.cavshate.org.
This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, ayou administeredred by the CaliFornia State Library.
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