Sinanyan requests anti-hate document
A proclamation denouncing hate speech and bullying is set to make its way before the City Council after two council members requested the decree this week.
The request, which was initially made by Councilman Zareh Sinanyan and supported by Councilman Frank Quintero, came a week after a Glendale resident asked the council to make the symbolic gesture.
The resident, Grey James, initially requested the proclamation in order to clarify the city’s position on hate speech because the council has been mostly silent since Sinanyan, who apologized for his own online hate comments, got elected in April.
When news of Sinanyan’s vulgar, sexist and racist YouTube comments broke during the election, Sinanyan would not comment on their origin. However, after he won, he admitted his wrongdoing and apologized from the dais.
During that time, people offended by the comments criticized him during the council’s public-comment period, but discussion about the issue quickly dwindled. Some critics have said they were afraid to speak out against him because they were met by animosity from Mayor Dave Weaver and Sinanyan’s supporters.
At one meeting, Weaver told critics to “can it.”
James brought the controversy up again because he wanted the council to take a collective stand against hate speech so the city’s position on the matter would be clear.
James said he appreciates that the proclamation will move forward.
“I think it’s necessary for Glendale,” he said.
The proclamation has not yet been scheduled to come up for review by the council.
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Follow Brittany Levine on Google+ and on Twitter: @brittanylevine.
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