DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson announced on Wednesday the creation of the Mayor’s Anti-Hate Advisory Council.
The announcement comes after the FBI released a new report showing that nationwide, hate crimes hit at a 12-year high in 2020. Dallas also saw an increase last year.
The new advisory council will discuss ways to make Dallas and its police department better equipped to both respond to and prevent hate crimes and to promote a culture that is tolerant and understanding. Members of the Advisory Council include key community leaders who are representative of various segments of the city’s population.
“Dallas is a welcoming city, one that embraces its diversity and works to overcome the racial and economic divisions sowed by generations that have long past,” Mayor Johnson said.
But, the mayor said the city cannot afford to ignore hate.
“Nobody should feel uncomfortable or unsafe in Dallas because of who they are, because of their race or ethnicity, their sexual and gender identities, their religion, or their national origin,” Mayor Johnson insisted.
The inaugural Mayor’s Anti-Hate Advisory council will include 16 people. Mayor Johnson named four co-chairs: Sammie Berry, Minister of Dallas West Church of Christ and Chair of Dallas Area Preachers and Church Leaders; Sherry Goldberg, Chair of the Community Security Initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas; Gary Sanchez, Board Chair, North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce; Sanjiv Yajnik, President of Financial Services, Capital One Financial Corporation.
Listen to Clayton Neville’s story below:
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