EAST LANSING, Mich. – East Lansing City Council adopted a resolution at its meeting yesterday affirming the City of East Lansing’s commitment to the preservation of civil liberties for all people within its borders.
The resolution recognizes an ordinance that was adopted in East Lansing almost 45 years ago, prohibiting, among other discrimination, any discrimination based on religion or national origin, to include those who are not naturalized citizens.
In part, Council’s adopted resolution states: “The City of East Lansing is known for its diverse population, which includes immigrants and refugees whose contributions to the community are vital to its economy, culture and civic character. Preservation of civil rights and liberties, regardless of immigrant or refugee status, are essential to the well-being of a democratic society. Governmental actions that undermine fundamental civil liberties erode United States institutions and the core values that define us as a nation, a state and a community.”
Council’s resolution was crafted and adopted in light of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order implementing travel and immigration bans and his order stripping federal funding from communities that he has defined as “Sanctuary Jurisdictions.”
“In light of President Trump’s recent executive orders, we as a Council felt it was vital to reaffirm the City’s commitment to all people who choose to call East Lansing home,” said East Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows. “We continue to be a community that values its diversity and we will resist every effort by the federal government to undermine the civil liberties of individuals based on their religion, country of origin and immigrant or refugee status."
A copy of the East Lansing City Council’s adopted resolution will be forwarded to state and U.S. legislators, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and President Trump. View the resolution: http://eastlansing.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=752&meta_id=45949.