Marin Voice: Tiburon councilmember asks all to speak out against hate speech

We just celebrated Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the holiest days of the year for Jewish people. In the 10 days in between, the Tiburon Town Council and several other government bodies, had video-conference callers spewing hateful antisemitic and racist epithets.

We have seen a rise in antisemitism in the past few months along with racism during this time of in-person public meetings with a video-conferencing component.

In this trying time, I challenge everyone to not stay silent.

Whether you speak before, during or after a meeting, or send a letter/email, let your voice be heard in solidarity with the Jewish community, as well as every other community facing discrimination.

Speak out in favor of tolerance and speak against hate. Stand with us and with every group being discriminated against. Make your voices heard.

Members of my family died in the Holocaust. There are generations of people I will never know, because they lost their lives due to hate. The hateful words expressed at the Sept. 20 Tiburon Town Council meeting were like daggers through my heart.

It was during the 1930s economic depression that the Nazis used words and imagery presenting Jews as the source of a variety of economic, social, political and ethical problems facing the German people in order to gain power. Many were afraid to speak out in support of the Jews due to the dictatorship.

We live in the greatest democracy in the world. It’s true, we are not perfect, but no nation can ever be. Democracy is a work in progress. However, democracy does give us the ability to speak up and fight back. We must not allow our children and our children’s children to think that by silence we are allowing these hateful antisemitic and racist comments to just be heard like every other public comment.

Make your voices heard. Do not stay silent.

I have given this a lot of thought. I am committed to never again let the discourse get to the point where action is taken against my people or any people.

I serve on the council with Jon Welner, who is also Jewish. He is an amazing person who worked hard to combat antisemitism when fliers were distributed all over Tiburon in February of last year.

I want to thank all of my Tiburon Town Council colleagues. Mayor Jack Ryan vocally expressed his displeasure at the comments and recessed the meeting. Vice Mayor Alice Fredericks took my hands in her hands and told me how sorry she was that the callers made these horrible comments. Isaac Nikfar, our newest councilmember (who was just sworn in that evening), stood with Jon and I and extended his support by speaking publicly against the comments.

I heard a collective gasp from the audience assembled in chambers, as well as from our town staff. Everyone stood with us to express that Tiburon does not tolerate this hate speech. It is an inclusive community.

It was in that moment that I saw my fellow councilmembers’ true character and thanked my lucky stars that I get to serve with such wonderful people. You made me proud of our Tiburon Town Council, staff members and the entire community.

I will never forget the display of loyalty to us and to our community. Sometimes it is in the darkest of times that we see the brightest lights shine. I know that, with all of your support, the support of countless residents and community members who have expressed their outrage, that we will not stand silent.

With your voices and action we will drown out the hate-filled rhetoric forever. We will never be silenced again.

Tiburon Councilmember Holli P. Thier is former mayor of the town.