Don't allow hate speech to define our community

The Bremerton City Council on Jan. 17 passed a resolution defining antisemitism. Will this resolution do anything to stop antisemitism? Probably not. Free speech is powerful.

Everyone at last week's meeting used their words to stand up to the vile weaponization of words by a few bad actors who the council heard from last fall. Playing on people's emotions is a mean game. Using words to assault others is wicked. Last October our citizens were verbally assaulted when a caller to a council meeting upset Jews, Gentiles, Christians, Agnostics, Blacks and the LGBT communities alike. The verbal assaults were meant to sting the caller's targeted groups. The council's lack of response to turn off the caller's microphone was upsetting as well. Allowing the caller to continue to spew his vile insults seemed weak and was largely scorned by all. Many demanded some response by our city leaders, particularly our Jewish community. They asked the council for some action.

Emotions ran high and in order to calm those most injured, the recent resolution was promoted. We all wish that the deplorable and hateful speech would not happen, but we all know that the weaponization of words will continue. The salve of a resolution feels good, like something has been done, but the effect won't stop insults and hateful speech. The resolve to comfort our neighbors was strong.

Do not allow the hate filled words of bad people to define us. Bremerton's city council may not be able to shut them off. Outsiders with hateful words exposed themselves for who they are.

Mary Lou Long, Bremerton

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Don't allow hate speech to define our community