East Valley NAACP Supports Non-Discrimination Ordinance In Mesa; Condemns Civil Rights Attacks

The East Valley NAACP Arizona preident, Kiana M. Sears, released a statement regarding actions by the Mesa City Council. It is as follows:“On March 1, 2021, after more than seven years of discussions, the Mesa City Council voted 5-2 to adopt Ordinance No. 5609 “prohibiting discrimination in public accommocation, employment, and housing on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, veteran’s status, marital status, and familial status and establishing penalities for violantions thereof.”“The adoption of this non-discrimination ordinance is a victory for civil rights. Sadly, for every step forward people of color make towards equality, there is a ‘group announcing it will attempt to strick down’ our progress. They ignore the fact that ‘The Supreme Court has made clear that ‘dislike’ or ‘discomfort’ with a group ‘is not a legitimate justification for discrimination,’ and the Equal Protection Clause prohibits discrimination against one group in order to accommodate the prejudicies and discomfort of another.’ (NAACP Legal Defense Fund).“The East Valley NAACP Arizona urges the residents, workers and visitors of Mesa, and every one with loved ones in Mesa, to ensure Ordinance No. 5609 is codified. Do not allow the voices of bigotry to be louder than the voices of justice.“We urge you to thank Mayour John Giles and Councilmembers Jenn Duff, Francisco Heredia, David Luna, and Julie Spilsbury for agreeing the people of color living, working, and traveling in Mesa are worthy of protections against discrimination, and condemn votes protecting discriminiation cast by Councilmembers Mark Freeman and Kevin Thompson. All Councilmembers’ contract informaiton is available at mesaaz.gov/govenment/mayor-council.“The East Valley NAACP Arizona will continue to work in support of laws and ordinances, which will bring our City another step closer to ending all forms of discrimination so that all Americans can enjoy the freedoms and protections guaranteed to us by the U.S. Constiution.