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West Palm Beach city leaders pass new ordinance targeting antisemitism

West Palm Beach city leaders pass new ordinance targeting antisemitism
BEGINS. AND ALSO HAPPENING TODAY, CITY LEADERS IN WEST PALM BEACH ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE A FINAL VOTE TO CRACK DOWN ON ANTISEMITISM. CALEB CALLAHAN JOINS US LIVE TO EXPLAIN THE PUNISHMENT THAT WOULD COME WITH THIS NEW ORDINANCE. CALEB? WELL, STEPHEN, IF THAT ORDINANCE IS APPROVED BY CITY COMMISSION, IT WOULD INCLUDE UP TO 60 DAYS IN THE JAIL AND A $500 FINE. THIS IS THE MAXIMUM PUNISHMENT THAT COULD BE DONE BY A CITY ORDINANCE. NOW, THIS WAS ACTUALLY ALL PUT TOGETHER BY THE MAYOR’S STAFF AFTER A SWASTIKA WAS PROJECTED ONTO THE AT&T BUILDING HERE IN DOWNTOWN AROUND TWO MONTHS AGO. WHILE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE WERE FOUND, THEY COULDN’T ARREST THEM BECAUSE TECHNICALLY, NO CRIME WAS COMMITTED. THIS ORDINANCE WOULD CHANGE THAT, WHILE ALSO MAKING IT EASIER FOR BUILDING OWNERS TO SUE VIOLATORS IN CIVIL COURT. WHEN THOSE IMAGES WERE PROJECTED ON THE BUILDING, IT WAS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT CAUSED CONCERN IN OUR CITY. WE WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL WELCOME IN THE CITY. THIS ORDINANCE WILL HELP PREVENT THINGS LIKE THAT. NOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THEY’VE ALREADY DONE ON THE COUNTY LEVEL. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THERE APPROVED AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE LAST WEEK THAT WOULD IMPOSE HEAVY FINES ON ANYONE THAT PROJECTS HATEFUL IMAGES ONTO BUILDINGS ACROSS THE COUNTY. BUT FOR NOW, WE’RE LIVE IN DOWNTOWN WEST PA
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West Palm Beach city leaders pass new ordinance targeting antisemitism
City leaders in West Palm Beach took a final vote on a new rule to crack down on recent acts targeting antisemitism. The City Commission approved the ordinance Monday night making it a criminal offense to project offensive images or messages onto buildings. Violators could face up to 60 days in jail and a fine of $500, the maximum punishment allowed by a city ordinance.The ordinance was crafted by the Mayor's staff after a swastika was projected onto the AT&T building in downtown two months ago. Although the responsible parties were identified, they could not be arrested because technically, no crime had been committed.Now approved, the ordinance would change that, as well as making it easier for building owners to sue violators in civil court. Related: More antisemitic packets thrown in West Palm BeachThis also comes after three men in a rented U-Haul truck threw hundreds of packets containing antisemitic flyers around the Flamingo Parks neighborhood Saturday. Deep Dive: WPBF 25 News Investigates

City leaders in West Palm Beach took a final vote on a new rule to crack down on recent acts targeting antisemitism.

The City Commission approved the ordinance Monday night making it a criminal offense to project offensive images or messages onto buildings. Violators could face up to 60 days in jail and a fine of $500, the maximum punishment allowed by a city ordinance.

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The ordinance was crafted by the Mayor's staff after a swastika was projected onto the AT&T building in downtown two months ago. Although the responsible parties were identified, they could not be arrested because technically, no crime had been committed.

Now approved, the ordinance would change that, as well as making it easier for building owners to sue violators in civil court.

Related: More antisemitic packets thrown in West Palm Beach

This also comes after three men in a rented U-Haul truck threw hundreds of packets containing antisemitic flyers around the Flamingo Parks neighborhood Saturday.

Deep Dive: WPBF 25 News Investigates