SUBSTITUTE ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago is a home rule unit of government pursuant to the 1970 Illinois Constitution, Article VII, Section 6(a); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to its home rule power, the City of Chicago may exercise any power and perform any function relating to its government and affairs including the power to regulate for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, hate crimes committed against transgender persons are not currently covered by the Municipal Code of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, other large cities such as New York City and Los Angeles have already created a protected class for transgender persons within their hate crimes ordinances; and
WHEREAS, there is an identifiable pattern of crimes which are being committed against members of protected classes across the United States and here in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, according the most recent data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, personal attacks motivated by bias or prejudice reached a 16-year high in 2018, with significant year to year increases in attacks on immigrants and members of the transgender community; and
WHEREAS, in Chicago's Marquette Park Neighborhood, on May 31st, 2020 a woman was murdered by a man because she was transgender; and
WHEREAS, crimes that target individuals and groups because of their identity are deserving of a special legal opprobrium; and
WHEREAS, outrage is not enough and the City of Chicago must fight hard to keep vulnerable members of our community protected and bring their attackers to justice; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the City of Chicago to protect residents from crime, regardless of identity; and
WHEREAS, it has always been the cherished duty of local government to provide for the protection and safety of its residents; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BYTHE CITY COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OF CHICAGO:
SECTION 1. The above recitals are expressly incorporated herein and made part hereof as though fully set forth herein.
SE...
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