As President and CEO of Beck Center for the Arts, I want you to know that safety is absolutely the most critical value to me and my colleagues. I was very sad to learn that a small business owner, who is Asian American, was on the receiving end of some terrible hatred, and I’d like to support Councilwoman Kepple’s resolution condemning hate speech toward Asian and Asian American Pacific Islanders. The fact that we have seen such horrible treatment of Asian and Asian American Pacific Islanders across the country is greatly disturbing, and I believe we in Lakewood should stand together to denounce this.
Hate speech leads to violence, and we need to do everything in our power to stop it in our community. Easy access to guns has created a public health crisis, adding to the level of fear that begins with hate speech. We do not have to accept this as normal. I support the Mayor and City Council in their efforts to develop a public safety plan that is comprehensive and community driven – one that intentionally includes protection of BIPOC. Please let me know if there is anything Beck Center can do to help, and thank you for all you do.