Despite a motion to pass the resolution, intense discussion exposed holes in the language that commissioners said needed adjusted. The commission’s members agreed to form a working group to tighten the language of the resolution before passing and sending the measure to Austin City Council for final approval and implementation.
“I think it’s important that this commission get it right and have the language be as powerful as possible,” said Commissioner Joe Miguez, who sponsored the resolution with Commissioner Garry Brown. “I want this statement made and whether it’s made this month or January or whenever is really irrelevant to me. We’ve got four years of a Trump presidency, and I think it’s important that we as the Human Rights Commission here and that our city council issue a strong statement.”
No timeline was announced for when the revised resolution might come back to the Human Rights Commission.
The resolution as introduced Monday recommended the council officially condemn the “hateful speech and actions” of Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence and ban the official use of Trump services and products.
The commission in April passed a similar resolution that recommended the city of Austin boycott North Carolina and Mississippi in the wake of anti-LGBT legislation enacted in both states. However, council has yet to act on the resolution.
In 2010, Austin banned all travel and business with Arizona after the state passed anti-immigration legislation.
The Human Rights Commission on Nov. 28 postponed voting on a resolution that recommends the city of Austin ban the official use of Trump products and services.[/caption]Resolution receives mixed reviews
Miguez said he did not discuss the resolution with any council members and was not sure what follow-up action the council might pursue.
“Our president and vice president-elect have engaged in neatly discriminatory conduct both in their campaigns and in their careers,” Miguez said. “These actions fly in the face of the city’s anti-discrimination ordinances. A strong message of condemnation is needed.”
The resolution received mixed reactions from other commissioners.
Commissioner Tucker Royall said he did not agree with sending what he viewed as a political message. He expressed doubt the commission would have drafted a similar resolution had former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won.
“I do view this as a political statement,” Royall said. “In my mind, I want to focus on bringing people together, and I don’t think this does that.”
After alluding to some of the controversial things Trump said during his campaign, Commissioner Paula Buls said it was the commission’s responsibility to act.
“I think it is absolutely unthinkable for us as a human rights commission to not have something to say about that kind of behavior and those words,” Buls said.
Sareta Davis, the commission’s chair, said the commission needed to be careful about dipping into politics.
“I urge caution,” she said. “I do see concern … that this is highly political. Let’s stay in the confines of what we do.”
Council members react
Trump’s victory set off a series of protests in many of America’s major cities, including Austin. Many residents as well as elected officials expressed frustration toward a Trump presidency, suggesting his message spoke loudly to racists, sexists, bigots and xenophobes.
District 7 Council Member Leslie Pool said the Human Rights Commission was “appropriate” given the political climate.
“Austin is not alone in raising concerns about the president-elect’s statements, so it’s entirely appropriate for the Human Rights Commission to have this discussion,” Pool said. “I support the sentiment and sincerely hope the president-elect will listen and be responsive to the concerns raised in Austin and in cities across the country."
“I support the sentiment and sincerely hope the president-elect will listen and be responsive to the concerns raised in Austin and in cities across the country." — District 7 Council Member Leslie Pool
Attempts to reach other council members and Austin Mayor Steve Adler were unsuccessful by publication time; however, many of the city’s elected officials voiced their opinions about a Trump presidency in the days immediately following the election.
District 4 Council Member Gregorio Casar also voiced his disappointment with the country’s choice for president and participated in downtown demonstrations.
“In Austin, we’re not just going to resist through protest,” he said in a statement. “We’re also going to resist by being a powerful example of effective government. Trump will not bring solutions to our community. We will. We will pass policy that truly fights economic inequality. We will create jobs, and we will help those who desperately thirst for change and fairness in our society.”
District 2 Council Member Delia Garza said that a Trump victory meant that racism, bigotry, sexism and hate won.
Adler said he was “angry and scared, hurt and confused” by this year’s election results.
“We must affirmatively and visibly reject and call out those across the county ho would harass, abuse and assault people of color, women and the LGBT community,” Adler said at a rally for immigrants following the election. “Silence in the face of prejudice encourages evil because it can be taken as acquiescence or even worse, as approval. ”
