WEST ORANGE, NJ — The U.S. Conference of Mayors and The Anti-Defamation League recently announced a new joint plan to fight extremism and bigotry and promote justice and equality in response to the hate and violence seen in Charlottesville, Va. More than 200 mayors from across the country so far have pledged to implement the plan, including West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi.
USCM partnered with ADL to develop the 10-point Mayors’ Compact to Combat Hate, Extremism and Bigotry. 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,” Mayor Steve Adler of Austin, Texas, one of the founding mayors of the compact, said in a recent statement. “Mayors are eager to join with the Anti-Defamation League to fight hate, and I’m honored that Mayor (Mitch) Landrieu (of New Orleans, La., and president of the USCM) asked me to help lead a coordinated campaign across this country to promote the Mayors’ Compact to Combat Hate, Extremism and Bigotry. Only the Statue 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.”
According to Jonathan Greenblatt, the national director and CEO of the ADL, there is no time to spare in the ongoing fight to end hate in this country.
“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,” Greenblatt said in a recent statement. “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.”
For Parisi, signing the compact was an obvious choice after he learned of its existence.
“Once I became aware of the compact, I thought it was important that West Orange be represented,” Parisi told the West Orange Chronicle in a recent email. “The world can seem unsettled at times, and sometimes scary, and any effort we can make as township officials to be clear about emphasizing the idea of a peaceful existence, free from hate, for all of us, is an important effort to make.”
But Parisi also cautioned that signing the compact does not solve the problems in this country.
“I am not sure there is ever real tangible effects of a compact or pledge but collectively, with continued discussion and an honest effort to understand each other, we can hope to achieve a peaceful existence,” Parisi said, “and if this or any compact continues that discussion, than it is worth it.”
Nevertheless, Parisi believes that the compact sends a message and truly does represent what West Orange believes.
“The world is complicated and though West Orange has always been a model community of people coexisting peacefully, it remains all of our obligation to continue to take a stand against hate and to promote the real idea that we can be different, we can disagree but we can still get along,” Parisi said.
Other Essex County mayors who have signed the compact include Vic DeLuca of Maplewood, Sheena Collum of South Orange and Robert Jackson of Montclair.
About the Author
