Resolution 2024-33143RESOLUTION NO.2024-33143
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA,DIRECTING THE
ADMINISTRATION TO CONDUCT SENSITIVITY TRAINING ON
THE CITY'S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY,INCLUDING A
DISCUSSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST
REMEMBRANCE ALLIANCE'S WORKING DEFINITION OF
ANTISEMITISM.
WHEREAS,the City of Miami Beach is committed to fostering a workplace environment
that is inclusive,respectful,and free from discrimination;and
WHEREAS,the City of Miami Beach HR.16.04,Prohibited Discrimination and Harassment
Policy,issued December 2017 and updated September 2019,ensures a workplace for all City of
Miami Beach employees that is free of any discrimination or harassment based on actual or
perceived race,color,sex,age,national origin,disability,religion,genetic information,marital
status,political affiliation,sexual orientation,gender identity,or familial status;and
WHEREAS,all city employees are expected to display tolerance and inclusion when
interacting with people who are different from themselves;and
WHEREAS,all city employees are expected to demonstrate sensitivity and
civility/respect in the workplace and with the general public;and
WHEREAS,state officials and institutions have a responsibility to protect citizens from
acts of hate and bigotry,including antisemitism,and must be given the tools to do so;and
WHEREAS,the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)defines
antisemitism as "a certain perception of Jews,which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.
Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish
individuals and/or their property,toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.";
and
WHEREAS,according to the IHRA,manifestations might include the targeting of the state
of Israel,conceived as a Jewish collectivity,but criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against
any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic;and
WHEREAS,to guide IHRA in its work,the following examples may serve as illustrations:
•Calling for,aiding,or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical
ideology or an extremist view of religion.
•Making mendacious,dehumanizing,demonizing,or stereotypical allegations about
Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective -such as,especially but not
exclusively,the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media,
economy,government or other societal institutions.
•Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing
committed by a single Jewish person or group,or even for acts committed by non-Jews.
•Denying the fact,scope,mechanisms (e.g.gas chambers)or intentionality of the
genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its
supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).
•Accusing the Jews as a people,or Israel as a state,of inventing or exaggerating the
Holocaust.
•Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel,or to the alleged priorities of Jews
worldwide,than to the interests of their own nations.
•Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination,e.g.,by claiming that the
existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.
•Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of
any other democratic nation.
•Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g.,claims of Jews
killing Jesus or blood libel)to characterize Israel or Israelis.
•Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
•Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel;and
WHEREAS,the IHRA Working Definition has proven to be an essential tool used to
determine contemporary manifestations of antisemitism;and
WHEREAS,there has been a documented increase in preliminary antisemitic incidents
across the United States,according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL);and
WHEREAS,antisemitism,including harassment on the basis of actual or perceived
Jewish origin,ancestry,ethnicity,identify,affiliation,or faith,remains a persistent,pervasive,and
disturbing problem in American society;and
WHEREAS,Jews continue to be a targeted minority in the United States and are
consistently the most likely of all religious groups to be victimized by incidents of hate,and such
incidents are increasing at an alarming rate;and
WHEREAS,a recent incident involving a City of Miami Beach employee making remarks
that,in the context in which they were made,were offensive and perceived as anti-Semitic;and
WHEREAS,specifically,the employee stated "Free Palestine"to a group of Orthodox
Jewish males;and
WHEREAS,sensitivity training is an effective tool for educating employees about the
importance of diversity,inclusion,and respect in the workplace;and
WHEREAS,on October 14,2020,the Mayor and City Commission enacted Resolution
No.2020-31453,which recognized the growing problem of antisemitism in the United States and
adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's ("IHRA's")Working Definition of
Antisemitism (the "IHRA Working Definition")as an important educational tool to address it;and
WHEREAS,at the June 26,2024,Commission Meeting,through item number C7BL,
Resolution 2024-33143,Human Resources was tasked with conducting sensitivity training on
the City's antidiscrimination policy,including a discussion of the IHRA's definition of
antisemitism;and
WHEREAS,the IHRA Working Definition has proven to be an essential tool used to
determine contemporary manifestations of antisemitism;and
WHEREAS,it is imperative that all City employees are knowledgeable about the City's
anti-discrimination policies,including the IHRA Working Definition to ensure a safe and
respectful workplace for everyone.
WHEREAS,this newly requested training will strengthen the City's current non-
discriminatory policies and explicitly address antisemitism,which is prohibited behavior in the
workplace;and
WHEREAS,this training will remind employees of the customer service,civility,and
professional behavior expectations set for all employees,which are reinforced at the monthly new
employee orientation sessions and through periodic ad hoc customer service training refreshers.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA,that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby direct the Administration to conduct sensitivity training sessions for all City
employees to review the City's anti-discrimination policies,including presentation of the
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 7 day of June 2024.
-#_
Steven Meiner,Mayor
JAN 2 1 225
Rafael E.Granado,City Clerk
ATTEST:
7
Sponsored by Mayor Steven Meiner
APPROVED AS TO
FORM &LANGUAGE
A'EXECUTION
1h@/[zozs
Date
R eso lutio ns -C 7 B L
MIAMI BEACH
C O M M IS SIO N M EM O RA ND UM
TO:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM:Mayor Steven Meiner
DATE:June 26,2024
TITLE:DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO CONDUCT SENSITIVITY TRAINING ON CITY'S
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY,INCLUDING DISCUSSION OF IHRA WORKING
DEFINITION OF ANTISEMITISM.
R E C O M M E N D A T IO N
B A C K G R O U N D /HIS T O R Y
A N A LY S IS
FIS C A L IM P A C T ST A T EM E N T
NIA
D o es this O rdin an ce req u ire a B usiness Im p act Estim ate?
(FOR ORDINANCES ONLY)
The Business Impact Estimate (BIE)was published on NIA.See BIE at:
https ://www.m iam ibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/meeting-notices/
FIN A N C IA L IN F O R M A T IO N
C O N C L U S IO N
A p p licab le A rea
Citywide
Is this a "R esid e nts R ig ht to K no w "item ,
pu rsuant to C ity C o d e Sectio n 2-172
No
Is this item related to a G .O .Bond
Project?
No
Page 1010 of 1862
W as this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which,as defined in Code Sec.2-4 81,
includes a principal engaged in lobbying?No
If so,specify the name of lobbyist(s)and principal(s):
Department
O ffice of Mayor Steven Meiner
Sponsor(s)
Mayor Steven Meiner
Co-sponsor(s)
Page 1011 of 1862