The following are the statements I read at the April 18 Council meeting, after the senseless vandalism at the Islamic Center of the Ozarks.  The Mayor made his own comments prior to my reading this.

Four freedoms are guaranteed in the First Amendment:  freedom of religion, freedom of speech and press, freedom of assembly, and the freedom to petition.  These are listed first in the Bill of Rights because we value these freedoms above all others, but—if they don’t apply for all of us—then they don’t apply for any of us.

The recent disgusting and contemptible acts against our Islamic neighbors were a complete violation of their First Amendment rights.

Military men and women, including one member of this Council, have fought in middle Eastern countries to carry the freedoms of democracy to others and to protect those freedoms for our own country.

If the freedoms of the first amendment don’t apply for all of us, then they don’t apply for any of us. 

Ms. Ruschefsky is away this evening participating in her own religious traditions, but were she here, her voice would also be raised strongly and eloquently against the despicable acts that occurred at the Islamic Center.

It is time for all people to be civil. It is time for all people of good will to be heard.