Council to get hate bill
Groups organizing rally to demand council pass statement
An Anne Arundel County councilman says he will introduce a resolution at Monday’s council session denouncing hatred and racism.
Councilman Pete Smith, a Severn Democrat, said the resolution will address “what’s been happening in the country for quite some time but certainly in the past few weeks.”
A council resolution does not have any legal implications but is a way for the council to make a public statement for the record.
Smith’s measure follows news that Anne Arundel prosecutors will pursue hate crime charges against two men accused of hanging a noose from a light fixture at Crofton Middle School earlier this month.
It also comes the week after the funeral of Lt.
Richard Collins III, a black Bowie State University student who was stabbed to death on the College Park campus of Smith the University of Maryland days before he was set to graduate and join the military.
Sean Christopher Urbanski, a white University of Maryland student and Severna Park High School graduate, has been charged with first- and second-degree murder in Collins’ death.
The FBI is investigating the homicide as a possible hate crime.
Smith said Collins’ death “certainly hit close to home.” Smith is black and a captain in the Marines Corps Reserve.
“Anne Arundel County is bigger and better than that,” he said of the recent incidents. “I think we as an elected body at times must take a stand on what we value and what issues are important to us.”
Progressive and civil rights groups used social media in the past week to ask council members to introduce a resolution condemning hate in the aftermath of Collins’ death. They focused in particular on Councilman Michael Peroutka, a Millersville Republican, because of his past ties to a pro-secession group and because Urbanski grew up in his district.
In response, Peroutka issued a statement calling Collins’ death “a tragedy” and condemning what he said is an attempt “to manipulate this family’s tragic loss into political gain.”
At least four councilmen must vote in favor of Smith’s resolution for it to pass.
Councilman Derek Fink, a Republican from Pasadena, said he wanted to see the resolution before predicting how he would vote, but said, “I don’t condone racism of any means or violence of any sort.”
Councilman Chris Trumbauer, an Annapolis Democrat, said: “I think it’s appropriate for us to speak out. A couple things
Councilman Pete Smith, a Severn Democrat, said the resolution will address “what’s been happening in the country for quite some time but certainly in the past few weeks.”
A council resolution does not have any legal implications but is a way for the council to make a public statement for the record.
Smith’s measure follows news that Anne Arundel prosecutors will pursue hate crime charges against two men accused of hanging a noose from a light fixture at Crofton Middle School earlier this month.
It also comes the week after the funeral of Lt.
Richard Collins III, a black Bowie State University student who was stabbed to death on the College Park campus of Smith the University of Maryland days before he was set to graduate and join the military.
Sean Christopher Urbanski, a white University of Maryland student and Severna Park High School graduate, has been charged with first- and second-degree murder in Collins’ death.
The FBI is investigating the homicide as a possible hate crime.
Smith said Collins’ death “certainly hit close to home.” Smith is black and a captain in the Marines Corps Reserve.
“Anne Arundel County is bigger and better than that,” he said of the recent incidents. “I think we as an elected body at times must take a stand on what we value and what issues are important to us.”
Progressive and civil rights groups used social media in the past week to ask council members to introduce a resolution condemning hate in the aftermath of Collins’ death. They focused in particular on Councilman Michael Peroutka, a Millersville Republican, because of his past ties to a pro-secession group and because Urbanski grew up in his district.
In response, Peroutka issued a statement calling Collins’ death “a tragedy” and condemning what he said is an attempt “to manipulate this family’s tragic loss into political gain.”
At least four councilmen must vote in favor of Smith’s resolution for it to pass.
Councilman Derek Fink, a Republican from Pasadena, said he wanted to see the resolution before predicting how he would vote, but said, “I don’t condone racism of any means or violence of any sort.”
Councilman Chris Trumbauer, an Annapolis Democrat, said: “I think it’s appropriate for us to speak out. A couple things
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