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Manhattan Beach City Council Approves Anti-AAPI Hate, Gascon Resolutions

May 19, 2021 09:09AM ● By Jeanne Fratello

Photo via Madeline Kaplan

Toward the end of a late-night session, the Manhattan Beach City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution denouncing hate against members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

As the clock neared midnight, the council also approved, 4-1, a resolution expressing a “vote of no confidence” in Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón. Councilmember Hildy Stern cast the lone dissenting vote.

Anti-AAPI Hate Resolution


The anti-AAPI hate resolution, approved on a 5-0 vote, officially affirms the city's commitment to the safety and well-being of members of the AAPI community, and denounces xenophobia.

It also encourages individuals to report AAPI violence to organizations such as the Los Angeles County’s LA vs Hate campaign, Stop AAPI Hate, an Stand Against Hatred, which provide places where those who have experienced anti-Asian bias or hate incidents can anonymously report their experiences.

The resolution was introduced by Councilmember Hildy Stern. It follows several weeks after families across Manhattan Beach launched a a city-wide demonstration against AAPI hate with chalk messaging and fundraising for a group that teaches bystander intervention.

"Passing the resolution sends a strong message that the city of Manhattan Beach does not tolerate hate crimes or any other forms of discrimination against Asian Americans or any other group," Madeline Kaplan, one of the co-organizers of last month's event, told DigMB. 


Vote of No Confidence in George Gascon


The Manhattan Beach City Council also approved a resolution expressing "no confidence" in Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon.

The resolution notes that Manhattan Beach "has a history of supporting legislation and ballot initiatives that increase public safety and protect the community."

It goes on to state that policies enacted by Gascón "contradict state laws that were enacted through the state legislature as well as the legislative ballot initiative process to prevent and prosecute crime and protect the general public," and that those policies "need to be consistent with state law and issued with reasonable intent and priority to enhance public safety and protect the general public and victims’ rights."

Manhattan Beach is one of at least 14 Los Angeles County cities to pass a resolution expressing no confidence in Gascón. Those cities thus far include Arcadia, Azusa, Beverly Hills, Covina, Diamond Bar, Lancaster, La Mirada, Pico Rivera, Redondo Beach, Rosemead, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, and Whitter.

In the 2020 election for L.A. County District Attorney, Manhattan Beach voted 10,733 (55.2%) for Jackie Lacey and 8,714 (44.8%) for George Gascón.

County-wide, Gascón won by a vote of 53.53% to 46.47% over Jackie Lacey.


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