As the investigation continues into the death of a 16-year-old Somali student on Capitol Hill, there is fear around Seattle’s Muslim communities that the incident may have been the result of a racially or religiously motivated attack. In response to anti-Muslim sentiments and searches on the rise nationally, Seattle City Council members Monday approved a resolution staunchly rejecting Islamophobia.

The resolution, introduced by Council president Tim Burgess, asks residents and city officials to make extra efforts to ensure the safety of their Muslim neighbors.

“The City of Seattle welcomes and affirms our Muslim residents, both native born and immigrant, and recognizes the enormous value they add to the cultural and economic life of this city,” Burgess said in a statement. “When we respond from fear, we respond from weakness.”

Prior to the resolution vote, future District 3 representative Kshama Sawant wrote about the Capitol Hill death and the anti-Muslim rhetoric of presidential candidate Donald Trump. “Politicians are exploiting the fear that people have in the wake of terror attacks with an onslaught of racist and Islamophobic proposals,” she said.

Seattle Central College student Hamza Warsame died on December 5th in a 60-foot fall from a building near Summit and Thomas. The cause and manner of Warsame’s death are still under investigation, according to Seattle Police.

Dozens of Seattle Central students, members of the Somali community, and their supporters held a prayer vigil for Warsame last week while rallies and marches outside SPD’s East Precinct brought demands that police investigate the case as a potential hate crime.

The full resolution is included below:

A RESOLUTION declaring support for Muslim communities, affirming the religious pluralism of the United States, and urging Seattle residents to stand together for peace and understanding.

WHEREAS, Muslims are part of our society and, inspired by their faith, give back every day as U.S. military personnel, police officers, doctors, nurses, caregivers, teachers, and in many other roles contributing to the success of the United States of America and the City of Seattle; and

WHEREAS, our nation’s founding documents emphasize the freedom of religion and a society that embraces religious pluralism; and

WHEREAS, The City of Seattle values the many different cultures, religions and traditions our residents embrace; and

WHEREAS, The City of Seattle continues to work toward a more inclusive society and welcomes cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity; and

WHEREAS, Muslims, both native born and immigrant, represent an increasingly important thread in the tapestry of American society; and

WHEREAS, the Muslim population in Washington State is estimated to be approximately 100,000 people, many thousands of whom live in Seattle, and who share the same American values and freedoms that we all cherish; and

WHEREAS, a significant percentage of Seattle’s immigrants and refugees are Muslim and have come to Seattle seeking a safe place to work, study or raise a family; and

WHEREAS, throughout history the United States has welcomed wave after wave of immigrants and refugees who add enormous value to the economic and cultural life of our nation; and

WHEREAS, presently, anti-Muslim rhetoric has increased in the national discourse and rates of hate violence targeting Muslim families and children are at record highs across our nation, which is detrimental to all people who cherish freedom and liberty; and

WHEREAS, some of the darkest moments in our nation and our city’s history have emerged from similar climates of fear; and

WHEREAS, this fear-based rhetoric distorts the reality of terrorism in the United States, where more individuals have been killed since September 11, 2001 by those who espouse other extremist ideologies like white supremacy or antigovernment fanatics than by those who espouse a perverted form of Islam; and

WHEREAS, hateful rhetoric only enables extremist ideologies to flourish in the dark corners of global society; and

WHEREAS, The City of Seattle finds this anti-Muslim rhetoric and hate violence to be against American principles of religious freedom and fairness and contrary to the vision we hold as a nation that welcomes all people; and

WHEREAS, all of Seattle’s residents deserve to live in a safe environment free of hate and discrimination; and

WHEREAS, The City of Seattle wishes to extend the traditional Islamic greeting of “Peace be upon you” to all of its Muslim residents and visitors; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:

Section 1. The City of Seattle does not tolerate anti-Muslim hate speech and violent acts committed against those who are Muslim or perceived as being Muslim, their places of worship, businesses, schools, and community centers. These are in direct contradiction to values of The City of Seattle and our open American way of life. We encourage our residents to recognize and celebrate the cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity that is represented in our City. We encourage residents to take extra efforts to ensure the safety of their Muslim neighbors. We encourage all City departments to direct appropriate attention and resources to supporting those targeted by hate speech and hate crimes.