Denver, CO, August 23, 2017 . . . The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) announced a joint plan to fight extremism and bigotry and to promote justice and equality in response to the disturbing hate and violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. Approximately 270 mayors from across the country representing USCM, including four from Colorado, have pledged to implement the plan.

USCM partnered with ADL to develop the 10-point Mayors’ Compact to Combat Hate, Extremism and Bigotry. Under the Compact, mayors commit to vigorously speak out against all acts of hate; punish bias-motivated violence to the fullest extent of the law; encourage more anti-bias and anti-hate education in schools and police forces, using ADL experts and resources for both; encourage community activities that celebrate their population’s cultural and ethnic diversity; and ensure civil rights laws are aggressively enforced and hate crimes laws are as strong as possible.

Scott L. Levin, ADL Mountain States Regional Director, issued the following statement:

“Throughout our country’s history, many mayors have been strong proponents of civil rights and have actively opposed racism and bigotry. We are grateful that Mayor Michael B. Hancock of Denver, Mayor Steve Hogan of Aurora, Mayor Tom Norton of Greeley and Mayor John Suthers of Colorado Springs have so boldly expressed their commitment to combating hate, extremism and bigotry. These mayors and the many other Colorado mayors we hope will soon join them have demonstrated leadership by promoting the fundamental principles of justice and equality that define America.”

About the U.S. Conference of Mayors

The USCM is the official non-partisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,408 such cities in the country today. Each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor.

About ADL

ADL was founded in 1913 to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all. Today it is the world’s leading organization combating anti-Semitism, exposing hate groups, training law enforcement on hate crimes, developing anti-bias curricula for students, countering cyber-hate and relentlessly pursuing equal rights for all.