On November 10, I posted an merchandise to Boing Boing titled, “Laughing lady removes Israeli kidnapping victims’ posters in viral video; hypothesis hyperlinks her to Redmond mayor.” It included a video exhibiting a girl, allegedly the daughter of Redmond, Washington’s mayor, eradicating posters of kidnapped Israelis from a USC constructing and laughing when questioned about it.
It seems the lady is certainly the daughter of the mayor of Redmond, Washington Mayor Angela Birney. Moments in the past, she launched the next assertion to the general public concerning the video:
Concerning the incident involving my daughter, Rachel Birney, a scholar at USC. I’ve the next assertion:
I need to begin with an apology to these affected by my daughter’s actions. I do not condone her conduct, which surfaced and intensified our neighborhood members’ worry and mistrust.
As a dad or mum, seeing your baby study this fashion is painful. Nonetheless, I do know that Rachel has turned it into a possibility to attach with native religion leaders, additional educate herself concerning the lengthy and sophisticated historical past of the area, and higher perceive how her actions are considered as antisemitic.
Above all, I want to make one factor very clear: this can be a mistake she made and never an motion rooted in hatred or conduct we interact in at residence. All acts of antisemitism and hatred are unacceptable.
Navigating this second calls us to teach ourselves and our households on the significance of tolerance, empathy, and communication. I’ve frolicked working with native Jewish leaders to raised perceive their issues, and I encourage everybody to not wait, however to succeed in out to members of our neighborhood and proactively interact in conversations that assist curb the rise in antisemitism.
As your Mayor, I remind everybody that Redmond is a thriving neighborhood as a result of it welcomes folks from all walks of life, not regardless of it. The Metropolis I’m dedicated to main celebrates our variations. We interact in robust conversations concerning the points, regardless of how uncomfortable they could typically be, to proceed to enhance our metropolis.
Lastly, my job is to serve our total neighborhood. Doing so means listening to many alternative factors of view and discovering methods to make sure neighborhood members really feel protected and included. I need to thank those that have taken the time to speak with the Metropolis about this matter and allow you to know that I worth your suggestions. I’ll proceed working to implement methods and actions that additional our understanding of one another and higher serve all of Redmond’s neighborhood members.