Thursday, March 18, 2021   |   View in browser

Statement from Mayor Stephen Hagerty

EVANSTON, IL - Evanston Mayor Stephen Hagerty today issued the following statement regarding this week's shootings in the Atlanta area:

"Two months ago, on the eve of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I wrote that Evanston is a welcoming community made stronger by our diversity; a community where hate is not tolerated. Today, I feel the need to reiterate this message.

Many of us have been shocked and deeply saddened to hear about the horrific murder of eight people in the Atlanta area this week, six of them of Asian descent. It was the deadliest mass shooting in more than a year in our country, and it follows a surge in racist attacks, threats and insults directed towards Asian Americans in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

I want to state unequivocally that Evanston stands with our Asian American community members, and we will never tolerate racism or hate of any kind in our city. 

While I know that I cannot fully understand the pain, anguish and terror these acts have caused, I do know that it is my responsibility — and everyone’s responsibility — to call out acts of racism when we see them, and to do what we can to support one another. Today, I’m encouraging all Evanstonians to reach out to Asian American family members, neighbors and friends, listen to them, mourn with them, and let them know you’re there for them. These actions can go a long way.

If you experience or witness acts of hate, intimidation, or violence, please report them immediately to the Evanston Police Department, which takes these matters extremely seriously and will investigate them fully.

We will only eliminate hate when we take responsibility for calling it out and eradicating it. In the meantime, I ask that we all do what we can to offer each other support, love and understanding."

-END-