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GALESBURG - Galesburg is the latest city to joining a nationwide campaign aimed at fighting prejudice and hate.
The Galesburg Human Relations Commission unanimously approved a proclamation Tuesday night designating September as "Not in Our Town, " month.
Galesburg's panel follows the lead of the Knoxville City council, which passed a similar ordinance in April.
"It's to make the community aware that Galesburg is a good community and I think we all need a reminder that things like this still happen, " said commissioner Jacquelyne Turner." It's not going be be tolerated."
Turner added that people should remember that discrimination is not only based on race, but also age, gender, and religion.
"When you break it down by numbers, we all fit into some category," Turner said,. "We all can be discrimnated against."
Knoxville and Galesburg officials will spend the next few months deciding how the two cities can best commemorate the month.
The "Not in Our Town" movement begain in 1995 after hate crimes directed at Jews, African- Americans and Native Americans flared in Billings, Mont.
Residents there fought back and later produced a video to spread the word that hate crimes would not be allowed there.
In addition to Galesburg and Knoxville, the Illinois cities of Bloomington and Normal also have bonded together to combat and prevent hate-based crimes.
In other business, the comission reviewed its plans to establish a Hunman Relations Commission Award.
Although in its preliminary stages, the contest will be based on nominations from the community. The award would reconize individuals, compainies and other organizations for their work in combating or ending discrimination.
The award, as tenatively planned , would be handed out in May.
The groups' members also took one last look at a pamphlet describing the commission and the services it provides.
It is set to be approved at the commisssion's next meeting in August.
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