MICHIGAN CITY -- Two councilmen stood in the way of a much-talked-about resolution receiving the full support of the Michigan City Common Council on Tuesday.A resolution titled "Condemning Violence, Bigotry and Hateful Rhetoric Toward Muslims in the United States," passed 7-2 with councilmen Chris Schwanke and Ron Hamilton voting against it. Both said they object to the resolution because it should protect the rights of all people, regardless of their religious beliefs. "I have no problem supporting a resolution covering all religions," Hamilton said before he voted against the one on the table.
Schwanke made similar remarks before also casting his "nay" vote.
The seven other council members spoke in support of this resolution, with Councilman Al Whitlow expressing concern that a resolution condemning hate and bigotry has garnered so much discussion.
"We’re not trying to eliminate hate, although that would be wonderful," he said. "We are saying the expression of hate through violent acts is inappropriate in this country."
There are already laws against violence, so this is redundant and was pushed by Muslim supremacists to silence critics of Islam.
Councilman Don Przybylinski said, "Michigan City is a progressive, proactive community and a progressive and proactive community always supports its citizens ... In our hearts, we need to stand up for the citizens of the United States, the citizens of Michigan City and human beings in general."
| Michigan City is about an hour southeast of Chicago. From there to New Buffalo, a lot of the real estate around the lake is owned by upper-middle-class folk from Chicago who spend their weekends in the country. They bring their blue beliefs with them... |
That committee, made up of council members Hamilton, Candice Silvas and Bryant Dabney, voted 2-1 to support the resolution as written -- with Hamilton voting against it.
Just before the vote on Tuesday, representatives spoke in favor of the resolution, urging the council to support it, including speakers from the Human Rights Commission, the Michigan City Commission for Women, Citizens Concerned for Syrian Refuges and the La Porte County NAACP."