Bexley City Council Takes Stand Against Antisemitism

The Bexley City Council approved a resolution on Jan. 10 that denounces all forms of antisemitism. Council president Troy Markham stated this decision is intended to show the city’s leadership stance, as “silence is complicity.”

Resolution No. 12-22, which was developed by Markham and council member Jen Robinson, declares, “Our city unequivocally condemns the recent rise in antisemitic violence and harassment targeting Jewish Americans, and stands in solidarity with those affected by antisemitism. We as a community are recommitted to combating antisemitism in all forms. Our community calls on elected officials, faith leaders and civil society leaders to denounce and combat all manifestations of antisemitism.”

Bexley Mayor Ben Kessler shared with the Columbus Jewish News that he supports the resolution as a crucial step against an alarming trend.

[ Read: Bexley eyes antisemitism resolution ]

“I think it’s alarming that there has been a national increase in what I would call the mainstreaming of antisemitic rhetoric,” he said. “It is really important leaders across all spectrums, national, state and local, don’t just kind of sit by and quietly allow that to happen without making any statements to the contrary.”

Markham emphasized that taking this stand aligns with Bexley’s identity as “a community that has a strong and proud legacy, embracing our Jewish population across all cultures,” Kessler noted.

A recent study by WOSU Public Media found that between 20% and 25% of Bexley’s population identifies as Jewish.

In an email to CJN, Markham explained that introducing this resolution was personal for him due to his shock at how widespread antisemitism became in 2022.

“After recent public antisemitic comments were made by national celebrities, I used my president’s report during a council meeting in October (2022) to speak out against them,” he said. “Quite frankly, I was shocked and then angered that these hateful and ignorant comments would be made and so widely dispersed in 2022.”

[ Read: Bexley resolution condemning antisemitism moves forward ]

Markham mentioned that even though he grew up in Southern Ohio around very few Jewish individuals, his eighth-grade teachers dedicated an entire day to discussing the horrors of the Holocaust; this had a lasting impact on him.

“As I grew older, I assumed that as civil rights and women’s rights expanded and became ratified that antisemitism would become a rare thing in the future,” he said. “Never did I imagine that in the year 2022 it would actually have increased to such a level in terms of volume and shocking acceptance.”

This issue hits close to home for Markham since his wife and children are Jewish.

“In the years that I’ve lived here, I’ve experienced the fear and anxiety from both hatred and instability caused by antisemitism within our community,” he said. “There have been several incidents involving harassment directed at our kids within public schools as well as at places of worship. It is unacceptable for Jewish people to face such hatred or threats of violence. The continuation of Holocaust denial is simply insanity that shouldn’t be tolerated at all.”

You can read the full text of the resolution at bit. ly/3h Ie ZAt.

Councilwoman Lori Ann Feibel also finds this matter personal since her husband and children are Jewish.

“The fear I feel for my own children’s safety-and for every child within our community-has heightened sharply over recent months,” she told CJN via email. “Today, I attended a funeral for a beloved 20-year-old member of our community who was adored; there wasn’t enough room inside the synagogue for everyone who came. Sadly, when I sat down there instinctively followed protocol from our city’s active shooter training-I located my nearest exit.”

While this resolution doesn’t mandate specific actions right away, Markham believes formalizing these statements holds value on its own.

“It was important to put it in writing,” he stated. “Not only do we have an obligation to speak out against hatred while reaffirming Holocaust facts but we-as elected officials representing our constituents-are entrusted with using our platform responsibly.” He added this resolution should lay down foundational principles guiding their decisions about inclusion based on truthfulness; hence why it’s essential they make their stance clear officially.

Kessler remarked how even if symbolic gestures seem weak compared with existing anti-discrimination laws already enacted locally-they still serve purposes towards raising awareness anytime acts occur requiring calls-to-action. “Here’s where words come into play reaffirming core values,” Kessler asserted

Markham called upon other municipalities throughout Ohio urging them follow suit concerning similar resolutions promoting inclusivity among diverse communities.