Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger is joining the chorus of local officials in “denouncing white supremacy, neo-Nazism, anti-Semitism and other forms of hate which have no place in a democratic society.”
The message from Hemminger was released by the town on Wednesday following the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, over the weekend organized by various white supremacist groups. A member of one of these groups drove his vehicle into a group of counter protesters on Saturday, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer and injuring more than a dozen others.
The town’s sympathies, Hemminger wrote, “are heightened by the knowledge that Charlottesville is so much like Chapel Hill, a distinguished university town that prides itself upon diversity, inclusion, and openness of thought.”
The mayor added that Chapel Hill staff and law enforcement had been working together and with UNC in recent days to “be prepared should a similar event occur in Chapel Hill.”
First amendment issues have been raised as concerns when localities have considered blocking these types of rallies. Hemminger wrote that “although we support First Amendment rights, we will not tolerate hatred, bigotry, racism or violence.”
Hemminger concluded her letter by writing, “I am confident that Chapel Hill will stand united, working together to demonstrate our commitment to respectful civic discourse as a way of moving forward on the important issues that lay before our town and our nation.”
The Carrboro Board of Aldermen have called a special meeting for Wednesday night to consider a resolution “in Solidarity with Charlottesville Counterprotesters, Condemning and Calling for Action Against Racism and White Supremacy.”
Hemminger’s full letter is below:
To the Chapel Hill community:
On behalf of all people of Chapel Hill, I want to extend our deep sympathies to every one of the victims of Saturday’s horrific events in Charlottesville.
We stand steadfast behind Mayor Michael Signer and the city of Charlottesville in denouncing white supremacy, neo-Nazism, anti-Semitism and other forms of hate which have no place in a democratic society.
Our sympathies are heightened by the knowledge that Charlottesville is so much like Chapel Hill, a distinguished university town that prides itself upon diversity, inclusion, and openness of thought.
Recognizing that we may not be immune from such an assault upon our own community for upholding the values that we share, it is important to make it clear that, although we support First Amendment rights, we will not tolerate hatred, bigotry, racism or violence.
In the days since the tragic incidents in Charlottesville, our law enforcement officers and Town staff have been working closely with the University to be prepared should a similar event occur in Chapel Hill.
We are taking necessary steps to protect the safety and well-being of our community, which at this time of year is welcoming students for the fall semester from all over our state, our nation and the world.
I am confident that Chapel Hill will stand united, working together to demonstrate our commitment to respectful civic discourse as a way of moving forward on the important issues that lay before our town and our nation.
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