Resolution is just the first step in ending bigotry


As the president and vice president of Adelante Comunidad Conejo, we want to thank the Thousand Oaks City Council for expressing their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

The anti-hate resolution passed at the Feb. 22 council meeting takes a first step toward including the input and perspectives of marginalized residents.

It’s a sad fact that bigotry is part of daily life for many in our community. We were shaken by the brazen show of white supremacy on Feb. 12. These were not just hateful words; they were actions.

Last year, Adelante encouraged many of our community members to share their stories of microaggressions, discriminatory practices and overt acts of racism. The response from many in our community, and some on our council, was largely one of doubt and disbelief.

Last week, we offered our perspectives and listened while some pushed back, saying there is nothing that can be done about racists, or even that racism and bigotry are not happening here in our community.

We know that racism, hatred, bigotry, antisemitism and neo-Nazis are not new to Thousand Oaks.

As Adelante prepared for our February marketplace, our leadership team shared concerns about the collective safety of our community during the event. We were also concerned that our vulnerable families might shy away due to their awareness that the haters here are willing to show their true colors for all to see.

We wondered, “Would we be targeted? Would we be safe?”

A resolution will not stop racism but it does help us, and the families we represent, to know that Anglo, English-speaking residents appreciate our contributions and are ready to stand with us against hate that is directed our way.

We must all stand up and speak out against all forms of hate. We hope that this resolution will start conversations, forge new allyships, and that we will all be able to stand together as one diverse community that respects, values and honors its residents.

Lynda Karl and Carole Shelton
Thousand Oaks