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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-3 - Affirming that the City Council Stands in Solidarity with its Iranian-American Community Members as their Relatives and Associates are Suffering through Current Human Rights Injustices in IranRESOLUTION NO. 2023-3 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AFFIRMING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH ITS IRANIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS THEIR RELATIVES AND ASSOCIATES ARE SUFFERING THROUGH CURRENT HUMAN RIGHTS INJUSTICES IN IRAN WHEREAS, on September 13, 2022, Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman, was arrested by Gasht-e Ershad, also known as the Islamic Republic of Iran's "morality police," for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly in violation of Iran's compulsory dress codes and subsequently died as a result of police brutality; WHEREAS, Mahsa Amini's death sparked the first Iranian female -led revolution of our time, involving thousands of Iranian civilians, including teenagers, students, men, and women of all ages, taking to the streets and university campuses to protest the brutality and repression of the Iranian regime against its citizens; WHEREAS, Iranian authorities have sought to suppress freedom of speech and dissent by implementing violent repression of nonviolent protests, censorship, torture, punishing journalists, and restricting internet access; WHEREAS, despite that repression, protests have continued to expand for women's rights and for the rights of religious and ethnic minorities in Iran; WHEREAS, across the world, thousands of marchers continue to demonstrate to support the people of Iran and send a message that their bravery in risking their lives to dismantle the status quo enforced by a fanatical, theocratic regime is not in vain; WHEREAS, according to the National Organization for Civil Registration, the United States has the highest number of Iranians outside of Iran, close to 1,000,000 people, with over one-half residing in California; and WHEREAS, Iranians have made important contributions as Californians in the fields of finance, technology, law, medicine, education, sports, media, the arts, the military, and government. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Newport Beach resolves as follows: Section 1: The City Council stands in solidarity with its Iranian -American community members, particularly Iranian -American women, as their relatives and associates are suffering through the current human rights injustices in Iran. Resolution No. 2023-3 Page 2of2 Section 2: The recitals provided in this resolution are true and correct and are incorporated into the operative part of this resolution. Section 3: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this resolution is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this resolution. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this resolution, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional. Section 4: The City Council finds the adoption of this resolution is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly. Section 5: This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council, and the City Clerk shall certify the vote adopting the resolution. ADOPTED this 10th day of January, ATTEST: Leilani'I. Brown City Clerk e� APPROVED AS TO FORM: CITY TORNEY' OFFI E A r n C. Harp City Attorney STATE OF CALIFORNIA } COUNTY OF ORANGE } ss. CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH } I, Leilani I. Brown, City Clerk of the City of Newport Beach, California, do hereby certify that the whole number of members of the City Council is seven; the foregoing resolution, being Resolution No. 2023-3 was duly introduced before and adopted by the City Council of said City at a regular meeting of said Council held on the 101h day of January, 2023; and the same was so passed and adopted by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Mayor Noah Blom, Mayor Pro Tem Will O'Neill, Council Member Brad Avery, Council Member Robyn Grant, Council Member Lauren Kleiman, Council Member Joe Stapleton, Council Member Erik Weigand NAYS: None IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the official seal of said City this 111h day of January, 2023. Leilani I. Brown City Clerk Newport Beach, California