The Corvallis City Council will look at a resolution at their meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 18, affirming the city’s stance against hate crimes following a number of hate–related incidents that have occurred in recent months.
In a memo to the Council, Mayor Biff Traber said the Council needs to affirm their stance in the form of a resolution making clear Corvallis’ commitment to be a community free of prejudice, bigotry and hate.
“The city has a strong value of being welcoming and protecting extensive rights of all community members,” said Traber. “This can be seen in our charter, ordinances, policies, and the Imagine Corvallis Vision 2040. Council has affirmed these in reaction to events using resolutions over recent years.”
Over the past year, there has been mounting concern about the rise of crimes in Corvallis. In September of 2020 the Corvallis Police Department responded to several calls regarding hate graffiti, including swastikas painted on a number of local businesses and city property.
“The immediate stimulus for this resolution was the sign incident in the apartment windows on Garfield in early December,” said Traber. “I used the Mayor’s Reports in the 12/20 council meeting to publicly reinforce the community’s values and reinforce our commitment against hate and bigotry. Councilors in repose proposed we prepare this resolution and time it for Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday.”
The Advocate reported on this incident on Dec. 13 after a resident at an apartment complex on NW Garfield Avenue and near NW Division Street hung both a Confederate flag and a Nazi flag in their window. The flags were ultimately removed after the property management company stepped in.
The Jan. 18 city council meeting will be open to the public via live stream; you can register to attend here.
By: Jennifer Williams
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