An Open Letter
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WVXU NewsAn Open Letter
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WVXU NewsAN OPEN LETTER FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS
This past week, the nation saw true evil perpetrated across America.
In Pittsburgh, eleven members of the Tree of Life Synagogue were gunned down by an anti-Semitic
murderer.
In Louisville, two African-Americans were slaughtered for no reason other than the color of their skin.
And across the country, homemade pipe bombs made by a homegrown terrorist were sent in the mail to
prominent elected officials and members of the media.
In each of these horrific instances, the face of evil revealed itself after being emboldened by the words of
those in positions of public trust.
A national conversation is now unfolding about the role that vitriolic, hateful, over-the-top rhetoric from
people in leadership positions is playing in inciting such hate crimes and acts of political violence.
All of us must come together to denounce the kind of extreme words that set the stage for extreme
actions. And that starts right here at home.
That’s why it was so startling and disappointing this week to witness the Vice Mayor of the City of
Cincinnati, Christopher Smitherman, sitting on the Council dais and calling his fellow Councilmembers
“evil.”
But the most outrageous and unacceptable thing happened when Smitherman said, “I pray to God none
of my colleagues have said anything about me,” and then after switching off his mic, turned directly to
Councilman Greg Landsman, and threatened him saying, “You don’t even want to know what I’m capable
of.”
Then, just yesterday, one of Smitherman’s closest operatives, who has been a paid member of his team,
sent an email to Council Members, saying, “Councilmember Landsman shouldn’t hide behind [the] Star of
David and synagogue shootings.”
Here in our own City Hall, this is the kind of unacceptable rhetoric that poisons the discourse.
We call on Vice Mayor Smitherman to immediately apologize to Councilmember Landsman - and to
denounce the anti-Semitic words of his team member.
Our leaders need to know - and, yes, to be reminded - that their words matter. People are watching. Our
children are watching. They are taking their cues from the behavior they see in public.
Our community deserves better.
Sincerely,
Jane Anderson Cam Hardy Robert Oestreicher
Jennie Rosenthal Berliant Bishop Bobby Hilton Judge Mark Painter
Allan Berliant Micah Kamrass Chairwoman Connie Pillich
Janaya Trotter Bratton Joe Mallory Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp
Timothy Burke School Board Member Ryan
Senator Cecil Thomas
Council Member Tamaya Messer
Dennard President Troy Miller Council Member Wendell
Rick Fischer Don Mooney Young
Bill Froehle Barbara Myers
