Responding to Charlottesville, U.S. Conference of Mayors and ADL Join on Action Plan to Combat Hate, Extremism & Discrimination

More than 200 mayors pledge to vigorously fight bigotry, work to build tolerance in their cities

‘Mayors’ Compact to Combat Hate, Extremism and Bigotry’ calls for fully-resourced law enforcement and civil rights investigations of domestic terrorism and hate crimes

New York, NY/Washington, August 18, 2017 – The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and The Anti-Defamation League today announced a new joint plan to fight extremism and bigotry and promote justice and equality in response to the disturbing hate and violence seen in Charlottesville, Va. More than 300 mayors from across the country representing USCM so far have pledged to implement the plan.

USCM partnered with ADL to develop the 10-point Mayors’ Compact to Combat Hate, Extremism and Bigotry. This is part of the Alliance Against Hate, a new ADL initiative that will work with the public and private sectors to reject hate. Under the Compact, mayors commit to vigorously speak out against all acts of hate; punish bias-motivated violence to the fullest extent of the law; encourage more anti-bias and anti-hate education in schools and police forces, using ADL experts and resources for both; encourage community activities that celebrate their population’s cultural and ethnic diversity; and ensure civil rights laws are aggressively enforced and hate crimes laws are as strong as possible.

“Terrorism by white supremacists, like what took place in Charlottesville, is a clear and present danger to America’s cities,” said Austin Mayor Steve Adler. “Mayors are eager to join with the Anti-Defamation League to fight hate, and I’m honored that Mayor Landrieu asked me to help lead a coordinated campaign across this country to promote the Mayors’ Compact to Combat Hate, Extremism and Bigotry. Only the Statute of Liberty should be carrying a torch these days, and her message of respect must echo in America’s cities where this battle is being fought.”

“Charlottesville made clear that we have a lot more work to do in our communities and we can’t wait a minute longer to step up our efforts,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director. “The U.S. Conference of Mayors deserves credit for their leadership. Mayors have always been strong supporters of civil rights and counterweights to those who discriminate. ADL could not have found a better partner to work with against hate.”

“What happened in Charlottesville last weekend reminds us all that violent hate and racism are very much alive in America in 2017,” said Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of the U.S. Conference of Mayor. “For decades, America’s mayors have taken a strong position in support of civil rights and in opposition to racism and discrimination of all kinds. At this critical time mayors are doing so again through this compact in an effort to combat hate, extremism and bigotry in their cities and in our nation. The Compact released today builds off our Leadership for America: Mayors’ Agenda for the Future, adopted by The United States Conference of Mayors and released by New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, President of The United States Conference of Mayors at our June 85th Annual Conference of Mayors in Miami Beach.”

"As mayors, we are the voice of our cities. It's important for us to have a united voice in denouncing the hate that has been plaguing our nation,” said Columbia Mayor and USCM Vice President Steve Benjamin. “We often forget that our country, the UNITED States of America, is a nation of immigrants past and present. Our founding fathers created America based off of an ideal – that one nation, under God, would be indivisible with liberty and justice for all. An America that is the greatest democratic nation in the history of the world. We MUST remember that in this America, there is no room for hate. There is no room for injustice. There is no room for fear induced by divisiveness."

“As leaders, we must stand up to hate and bigotry – and we must speak loudly and with conviction. In Louisville, we lean into honest conversations about race and, as a compassionate city, we have no room for hate or extremism”, said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer.

“When white supremacists, bigots, and hateful extremists march in our streets with torches and swastikas, inflicting violence and spewing ignorant rhetoric, our core national values are under attack,” said Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis. “America’s Mayors know first-hand how important it is for all of our neighbors to be included in our communities, and we stand together in our outrage over the recent events in Charlottesville, and anywhere this type of behavior occurs.”

“Even as we uphold and ensure free speech in our cities, as mayors we can never let hate go unchecked,” says Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait. “We must call out racial extremism for what is — provocation to divide and incite. Like cities across the nation, Anaheim draws strength in diversity and a culture of kindness. We are with all who peacefully stand against hate and intolerance.”

“The recent violent acts in Charlottesville create a strong awareness that while we have made great strides to combat bigotry and hatred, we must note these topics as priority on our agendas,” said Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson. “We must remain vigilant in our own neighborhoods and cities to ensure these acts receive no air time, both figuratively and literally. Our job is not only to condemn those sentiments that fly in the face of our democracy, it is to promote tolerance and love of all people and freedom and justice for all.”

List of Signatories

• Mitch Landrieu, New Orleans, Louisiana, President, U.S Conference of Mayors
• Steve Benjamin, Columbia, South Carolina, Vice President, U.S Conference of Mayors
• Bryan K. Barnett, Rochester Hills, Michigan, Second Vice President, U.S Conference of Mayors
• Steve Adler, Austin, Texas
• William A. Bell Sr., Birmingham, Alabama
• William 'Sandy' S. Stimpson, Mobile, Alabama
• Ethan Berkowitz, Anchorage, Alaska
• Coral Evans, Flagstaff, Arizona
• Georgia Lord, Goodyear, Arizona
• John Giles, Mesa, Arizona
• Greg Stanton, Phoenix, Arizona
• Mark W. Mitchell, Tempe, Arizona
• Jonathan Rothschild, Tucson, Arizona
• Lioneld Jordan, Fayetteville, Arkansas
• Mark Stodola, Little Rock, Arkansas
• Tom Tait, Anaheim, California
• Liz Gibbons, Campbell, California
• Mary Casillas Salas, Chula Vista, California
• Jeffrey Cooper, Culver City, California
• Katrina Foley, Costa Mesa, California
• Savita Vaidhyanathan, Cupertino, California
• Robb Davis, Davis, California
• Catherine S. Blakespear, Encinitas, California
• Acquanetta Warren, Fontana, California
• Lily Mei, Fremont, California
• Lee Brand, Fresno, California
• Paula Perotte, Goleta, California
• John P. Marchand, Livermore, California
• Robert Garcia, Long Beach, California
• Mary Prochnow, Los Altos, California
• Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles, California
• Rich Tran, Milpitas, California
• Steve Tate, Morgan Hill, California
• Ken S. Rosenberg, Mountain View, California
• Jill Techel, Napa, California
• Alan L. Nagy, Newark, California
• Libby Schaaf, Oakland, California
• Sue Higgins, Oakley, California
• Steven W. Martin, Paso Robles, California
• Donald Terry, Rancho Cordova, California
• Darrell Steinberg, Sacramento, California
• Edwin M. Lee, San Francisco, California
• Sam Liccardo, San Jose, California
• Pauline Russo Cutter, San Leandro, California
• Heidi Harmon, San Luis Obispo, California
• Helene Schneider, Santa Barbara, California
• Ted Winterer, Santa Monica, California
• Chris Coursey, Santa Rosa, California
• Claudia Bill-de la Pena, Thousand Oaks, California
• Patrick J. Furey, Torrance, California
• Gary Soiseth, Turlock, California
• Carol Dutra-Vernaci, Union City, California
• John Heilman, West Hollywood, California
• Christopher L. Cabaldon, West Sacramento, California
• Angel Barajas, Woodland, California
• Steve Hogan, Aurora, Colorado
• Michael B. Hancock, Denver, Colorado
• Tom Norton, Greeley, Colorado
• Joe Ganim, Bridgeport, Connecticut
• Marcia A. Leclerc, East Hartford, Connecticut
• Harry Rilling, Norwalk, Connecticut
• David Martin, Stamford, Connecticut
• Shari Cantor, West Hartford, Connecticut
• Edward M. O'Brien, West Haven, Connecticut
• Mike Purzycki, Wilmington, Delaware
• Muriel Bowser, Washington, District of Columbia
• Joe Kilsheimer, Apopka, Florida
• Enid Weisman, Aventura, Florida
• Gabriel Groisman, Bal Harbour Village, Florida
• Susan Haynie, Boca Raton, Florida
• Marni L. Sawicki, Cape Coral, Florida
• Judith 'Judy' Paul, Davie, Florida
• Derrick L. Henry, Daytona Beach, Florida
• Juan Carlos Bermudez, Doral, Florida
• Julie Ward Bujalski, Dunedin, Florida
• Randall P. Henderson Jr., Fort Myers, Florida
• Joy Cooper, Hallandale Beach, Florida
• Josh Levy, Hollywood, Florida
• Hazelle Rogers, Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
• Richard J. Kaplan, Lauderhill, Florida
• Philip Levine, Miami Beach, Florida
• Oliver G. Gilbert III, Miami Gardens, Florida
• Wayne M. Messam, Miramar, Florida
• Bill Barnett, Naples, Florida
• John Adornato III, Oakland Park, Florida
• Buddy Dyer, Orlando, Florida
• William Capote, Palm Bay, Florida
• Milissa Holland, Palm Coast, Florida
• Christine Hunschofsky, Parkland, Florida
• Frank C. Ortis, Pembroke Pines, Florida
• Ashton J. Hayward, Pensacola, Florida
• Joseph M Corradino, Pinecrest, Florida
• Gregory J. Oravec, Port St. Lucie, Florida
• Rick Kriseman, St. Petersburg, Florida
• Michael J. Ryan, Sunrise, Florida
• Andrew D. Gillum, Tallahassee, Florida
• Harry Dressler, Tamarac, Florida
• Bob Buckhorn, Tampa, Florida
• Geraldine 'Jeri' Muoio Ph.D., West Palm Beach, Florida
• Daniel J. Stermer, Weston, Florida
• Kasim Reed, Atlanta, Georgia
• Hardie Davis Jr., Augusta, Georgia
• Michael Bodker, Johns Creek, Georgia
• Kirk Caldwell, Honolulu, Hawaii
• Rahm Emanuel, Chicago, Illinois
• Kristina Kovarik, Gurnee, Illinois
• Rodney S. Craig, Hanover Park,Illinois
• Nancy Rodkin Rotering, Highland Park, Illinois
• Chris Koos, Normal, Illinois
• Thomas P. McNamara, Rockford, Illinois
• John D. Noak, Romeoville ,Illinois
• James O. Langfelder, Springfield, Illinois
• John Hamilton, Bloomington, Indiana
• James Brainard, Carmel, Indiana
• Thomas 'Tom' C. Henry, Fort Wayne, Indiana
• Karen M. Freeman-Wilson, Gary, Indiana
• Joe Hogsett, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Pete Buttigieg, South Bend, Indiana
• T.M. 'Frank' Franklin Cownie, Des Moines, Iowa
• Roy D. Buol, Dubuque, Iowa
• Bob Andeweg, Urbandale, Iowa
• Mark R. Holland, Kansas City, Kansas
• Jeff Longwell, Wichita, Kansas
• William May, Frankfort, Kentucky
• Jim Gray, Lexington, Kentucky
• Greg Fischer, Louisville, Kentucky
• Sharon Weston Broome, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Joe Baldacci, Bangor, Maine
• Catherine E. Pugh, Baltimore, Maryland
• Patrick L. Wojahn, College Park, Maryland
• Jacob R. Day, Salisbury, Maryland
• Jeffrey Z. Slavin, Somerset, Maryland
• Martin J. Walsh, Boston, Massachusetts
• Bill Carpenter, Brockton, Massachusetts
• Carlo DeMaria Jr., Everett, Massachusetts
• James J. Fiorentini, Haverhill, Massachusetts
• Stephanie M. Burke, Medford, Massachusetts
• Jon Mitchell, New Bedford, Massachusetts
• Setti Warren, Newton, Massachusetts
• Rosalynn Bliss, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Virgil 'Virg' Bernero, Lansing, Michigan
• Steve Gawron, Muskegon, Michigan
• William R. Wild, Westland, Michigan
• Elizabeth B. Kautz, Burnsville, Minnesota
• Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Eden Prairie, Minnesota
• Betsy Hodges, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Ardell F. Brede, Rochester, Minnesota
• Jake Spano, St. Louis Park, Minnesota
• Chris Coleman, St. Paul, Minneosta
• Errick D. Simmons, Greenville, Mississippi
• Brian Treece, Columbia, Missouri
• Eileen Weir, Independence, Missouri
• Sylvester 'Sly' James Jr., Kansas City, Missouri
• Lyda Krewson, St. Louis, Missouri
• Chris Beutler, Lincoln, Nebraska
• Debra March, Henderson, Nevada
• Carolyn G. Goodman, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Hillary Schieve, Reno, Nevada
• Brad J. Cohen, East Brunswick, New Jersey
• J. Christian Bollwage, Elizabeth, New Jersey
• Alberto G. Santos, Kearny, New Jersey
• Robert D. Jackson, Montclair, New Jersey
• Ras J. Baraka, Newark, New Jersey
• Francis 'Mac' Womack III, North Brunswick, New Jersey
• Brian C. Wahler, Piscataway, New Jersey
• Liz Lempert, Princeton, New Jersey
• Sheena C. Collum, South Orange, New Jersey
• Andy Skibitsky, Westfield, New Jersey
• Richard J. Berry, Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Kenneth D. Miyagishima, Las Cruces, New Mexico
• Javier Gonzales, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Kathy M. Sheehan, Albany, New York
• Byron W. Brown, Buffalo, New York
• Noam Bramson, New Rochelle, New York
• Bill de Blasio, New York, New York
• Paul A. Dyster, Niagara Falls, New York
• Lovely A. Warren, Rochester, New York
• Stephanie A. Miner, Syracuse, New York
• Lydia Lavelle, Carrboro, North Carolina
• Jennifer W. Roberts, Charlotte, North Carolina
• William 'Bill' V. Bell, Durham, North Carolina
• Miles Atkins, Mooresville, North Carolina
• Nancy McFarlane, Raleigh, North Carolina
• James Allen Joines, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Dan Horrigan, Akron, Ohio
• John Cranley, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Frank G. Jackson, Cleveland, Ohio
• Andrew Ginther, Columbus, Ohio
• Nan Whaley, Dayton, Ohio
• Lydia L. Mihalik, Findlay, Ohio
• David J. Berger, Lima, Ohio
• Paula Hicks-Hudson, Toledo, Ohio
• Kathy Cocuzzi, Westerville, Ohio
• John A. McNally, Youngstown, Ohio
• Mick Cornett, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Denny Doyle, Beaverton, Oregon
• Shane T. Bemis, Gresham, Oregon
• Ted Wheeler, Portland, Oregon
• John L. Cook, Tigard, Oregon
• Ed Pawlowski, Allentown, Pennsylvania
• Robert Donchez, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
• Salvatore J. Panto Jr., Easton, Pennsylvania
• Eric Papenfuse, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
• Jim Kenney, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• William Peduto, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• C. Kim Bracey, York, Pennsylvania
• Edwin García Feliciano, Camuy, Puerto Rico
• Jorge O. Elorza, Providence, Rhode Island
• John J. Tecklenburg, Charleston, South Carolina
• Steve Benjamin, Columbia, South Carolina
• Kim McMillan, Clarksville, Tennessee
• Madeline Anne Rogero, Knoxville, Tennessee
• Jim Strickland, Memphis, Tennessee
• Megan Barry, Nashville, Tennessee
• Karl Mooney, College Station, Texas
• Mike Rawlings, Dallas, Texas
• Chris Watts, Denton, Texas
• Betsy Price, Fort Worth, Texas
• Sylvester Turner, Houston, Texas
• Harry LaRosiliere, Plano, Texas
• Ron Nirenberg, San Antonio, Texas
• Jackie Biskupski, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Allison Silberberg, Alexandria, Virginia
• Mike Signer, Charlottesville, Virginia
• McKinley L. Price DDS, Newport News, Virginia
• Levar Stoney, Richmond, Virginia
• Nancy Backus, Auburn, Washington
• Dave Earling, Edmonds, Washington
• Ray Stephanson, Everett, Washington
• Cheryl L. Selby, Olympia, Washington
• Glenn A. Johnson, Pullman, Washington
• John Marchione, Redmond, Washington
• Ed Murray, Seattle, Washington
• Chris Roberts, Shoreline, Washington
• Marilyn Strickland, Tacoma, Washington
• Deb Lewis, Ashland, Wisconsin
• James J. Schmitt, Green Bay, Wisconsin
• Tim Kabat, La Crosse, Wisconsin
• Paul R. Soglin, Madison, Wisconsin
• Thomas 'Tom' Barrett, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Zachary J. Vruwink, Wisconsin Rapids, WisconsinAbout the U.S. Conference of Mayors

The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) is the official non-partisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,408 such cities in the country today. Each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor.

About ADL

The Anti-Defamation League was founded in 1913 to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all. Today it is the world’s leading organization combating anti-Semitism, exposing hate groups, training law enforcement on hate crimes, developing anti-bias curricula for students, countering cyber-hate and relentlessly pursuing equal rights for all. Follow us on Twitter @ADL_National and visit us at adl.org.