Dear Equity Commission Members,

We are Evanstonians who are deeply troubled by the Equity and Empowerment Commission’s consideration this Thursday of an ill-advised and deeply flawed resolution on the response to Hamas’s terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7th. This resolution is outside the Commission’s purview and would inflame already raw divisions in the Evanston community.

The purpose of the Equity and Empowerment Commission is outlined in Evanston’s municipal code. It is to identify and dismantle inequities “within City services, programs, and policies.” The law is clear: the Commission’s mandate excludes any kind of action on foreign policy.* 

This resolution far oversteps the Commission’s authority and expertise. Its approval would signal that the Commission is determined to use its power to wade into divisive international issues rather than to fulfill its mission to address the serious equity challenges facing Evanston residents. 

That some members believe the Commission can disregard the parameters of this clear mandate and enter into the international political arena is nothing short of staggering. It also flies in the face of past practice.

Did the Commission consider condemning Hamas’s brutal rapes, tortures, and murders of Israelis on October 7? Did it speak out on the persecution of Uyghurs in China, the invasion of Ukraine, the ongoing civil war in Darfur, or the U.S.-supported Saudi Arabian military action in Yemen?

When else has the Commission weighed in on an international conflict?

If Commission members defy the city’s municipal code and vote in favor of this resolution, it will be obvious that they are ignoring the body’s true mission in order to single out Israel and the Jewish community for attack and derision. It will create even more division and stress among residents during this terrible time. That is the opposite of what Evanston needs right now and it is the opposite of what the Commission should be doing. 

In addition to being outside the Commission’s purview, the resolution is inflammatory and biased. It ostensibly calls for a ceasefire but is in fact a shockingly one-sided document that gives an incomplete account of an enormously complex situation, repeatedly singling out Israel for condemnation while failing to denounce the unspeakable atrocities on October 7 or any other action by Hamas.

The Commission could have an important role to play in this troubled moment. A constructive use of its authority would be to address the recent surge in antisemitism and Islamophobia that threatens our community. Ensuring that all Evanston residents feel secure in their city is an essential goal that falls squarely within the Commission’s mission.

We urge you to reject any action favorable to this resolution and to do what the people of Evanston asked of you when they created the Commission: focus on the significant equity issues within our city. 

Thank you for your consideration. 

Signatories: Your email is collected for confirmation purposes only and will not be made public. Your name will be submitted with this letter to the members of the Equity and Empowerment Commission in advance of the Commission's meeting on Thursday, November 30, 2023. Signatures submitted after 3:15 PM on the day of the meeting may not be included in the letter, but they will be accepted and can be used to keep in touch about further developments (e.g. if the resolution is tabled till a later date, if it passes and is sent to City Council, etc.). After submission to the Commission, the letter and signatories will become public record.  
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*The relevant section of the Commission’s enabling ordinance reads: “The purpose of the Equity & Empowerment Commission ("Commission") is to identify systems of inequity, and guided by resident voices, hold the City of Evanston and its governing leadership bodies to provide racial equity measurement tools to dismantle racist policies and practices as they rebuild equitable ones. The scope of these efforts includes systems within City services, programs, and policies, including decision-making processes and practices. The Commission will work with community partners and businesses to promote equity and inclusion within the City and provide guidance, education, and assistance to City Departments to build capacity in achieving equitable outcomes and services. Further, the Commission will be transparent and collaborative with both internal and external individuals and entities, holding all accountable for measurable improvements and outcomes. Finally, the Commission will promote, support, and build capacity with laws, ordinances, and regulations related to equity and empowerment within the City.”

The Commission’s declared Mission also limits action to City limits and excludes foreign policy statements: “The Equity and Empowerment Commission’s (EEC) mission is to develop shared recognition, and language of the history and impact of structural racism in Evanston, and develop tools and practices to achieve racial equity for all residents.”