Cedar Falls Mayor Laudick denounces instances of hate speech messages

Cedar Falls, Iowa – Cedar Falls Hate speech has been observed in the city recently, which Mayor Danny Laudick is condemning.

Cedar Falls Public Safety is looking into recent incidents of fliers and graffiti that have been discovered in the town and at the public library.

Both Mayor Laudick and the Cedar Falls Human Rights Commission said that they had received reports of multiple instances of hate speech in the form of antisemitic and racist slurs appearing on graffiti.

Someone even threatened immigrants in the neighborhood with flyers in one case.

In a letter, Mayor Laudick stated:

Over 40,000 neighbors, friends, families, and loved ones call Cedar Falls home. Every single one of us is essential to the beating heart of our city. However, there have been a few recent instances that go directly against this idea, such as hateful remarks and symbols directed at specific groups within our community.

I want to be clear as mayor: these messages are inappropriate for our city.

It is normal (and essential) to have disagreements as well as conflicts and divergent viewpoints when residing in a country that respects our individual freedoms and the right to free expression. However, we violate the fundamental principles upon which our country was built when we allow our differences and disagreements to turn into hate crimes and threats of violence.

Coming up is a very contentious national election, and I challenge us to rise above the depressingly commonplace rhetoric of “us versus them.” And I urge us to never forget that the polarizing power of our biases and anxieties will never be able to defeat our shared humanity.”

In an interview, Mayor Laudick continued, saying, “Just really state that these types of messages don’t have a place here in Cedar Falls.” It’s hardly the kind of thing our residents would support, knowing them as they do. As I mentioned in the message, there will always be differences in our perspectives on immigration, the way it has been handled, and other related issues. Hateful statements like these cross the boundary into targeting specific groups of individuals in our community rather than just an individual’s viewpoint.”

In addition, the Cedar Falls Human Rights Commission stated that anyone experiencing hate speech is welcome to get in touch with them for assistance. They are available to all members of the community.