This week, Mayor Kessler and City Council condemned the terrorist attacks on Israel, and expressed a deep and continuing commitment to ensuring the safety of Bexley’s Jewish community.
“Tonight I joined our Columbus Jewish community in vigil, mourning those lost and calling for peace in Israel,” said Mayor Ben Kessler on Monday evening via his official Facebook channel. “There is no justification for the taking of innocent lives. We stand in solidarity with our Jewish community, and redouble our commitment to their safety and security.”
At the Tuesday, October 10 Council meeting, President Troy Markham called for a vote to re-affirm the City’s resolution condemning anti-semitism, which was again unanimously approved by City Council. “There’s no justification for the horrible actions that we saw this weekend,” said President Markham. “Although there is very little we can do in the middle east during this time, it’s important that we as a city stand up to continue to decry hatred and violence in the name of religion and nationalism. It’s important that we don’t back down in the use of our power and our voices to stick up for those important ideals. We must add our voices to the side of decency, and mercy, and condemn the messages of hate and violence and fear. As little as we can do, we must do it, as many times as necessary.”
During the council meeting, Mayor Kessler and Chief Lewis also discussed the City’s continuing and deepening efforts to work closely with the Jewish community to ensure the security and peace of all residences and places of worship. “The security and safety of our Jewish community – our friends and our neighbors – will always be front and center,” said Mayor Kessler.
