• Resolution

  • Resolution of the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce to Reaffirm our Commitment to a Diverse, Inclusive, Supportive and Protective Community

    1. The Mountain View Chamber values a community characterized by diversity, multiculturalism, and unity, and

    2. Our community spirit is one of protection and support, and ensures that the physical and emotional needs of all are considered and met wherever possible; and

    3. Each person is naturally and legally entitled to live a life unmolested by harassment, discrimination, persecution, or assault, whether perpetrated by individuals, groups, businesses, or government; and

    4. There exists significant and growing concern in our community based on recent national and regional incidents of hate crimes, discrimination, sexual harassment, assault, and fear of a trend toward more of these crimes in the future; and

    5. We value all members of our community of all religions, ancestries, and ethnicities, as well as people of any disability, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

    6. We are a nation built on immigrants. 40 percent of America's Fortune 500 companies were founded by an immigrant or the child of an immigrant.  In Silicon Valley, 53 percent of our engineers are foreign-born.  Here in Mountain View, Intel Co-Founder Andy Grove, WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum and Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin are all immigrants. We are proud that so many distinguished leaders born outside of the United States have moved to our community.

     

    NOW, THEREFORE, the Mountain View Chamber takes this opportunity to reinforce our commitment to a diverse, supportive, inclusive, and protective community and RESOLVES as follows:

     

    The Mountain View Chamber of Commerce rejects bigotry in all its forms, including but not limited to Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, racism, nativism, misogyny, and homophobia; and The Chamber does not tolerate discrimination, hate crimes, harassment, or assault; and The Chamber will oppose any attempts to undermine the safety, security, and rights of our members; and the Chamber recognizes, values, and will proactively work to ensure the rights and privileges of everyone in Mountain View, regardless of religion, ancestry, country of birth, immigration status, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity; and The Chamber will promote safety, a sense of security, and equal protection of constitutional and human rights, leading by example through equitable treatment of all by Chamber Staff and our members.

     

    “We have much to celebrate in Mountain View. One of which is our outstanding leadership organizations like the Chamber of Commerce. I'm proud to stand with them and completely agree with their resolution.”  - Ken Rosenberg, Mayor City of Mountain View

     

    "I welcome the Chamber's statement. In this time of crisis, it's heartwarming to see that our community is united in defense of human rights, in treasuring cultural diversity, and in recognition of the contributions that immigrants make to our economy, at all levels. Mountain View and Silicon Valley should stand as a model to the rest of the country. Inclusivity works!" - Lenny Siegel, Vice-Mayor City of Mountain View