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Residents raise concerns at council meeting about planned keynote speaker, allege antisemitism and municipal inaction
Summary
Two residents told the Solon City Council they are concerned about a planned keynote speaker at a March 15 event and alleged the mosque and city leaders have failed to condemn antisemitic rhetoric; speakers called for action but the transcript records no formal council response or action.
During the public‑comment period at the March 3, 2025, Solon City Council meeting, two residents urged council members to respond to what they described as antisemitic and extremist rhetoric connected to a community fundraiser and to the local mosque’s speaker choices.
Catherine Catino of Brockford Drive told the council she was “deeply concerned about the keynote speaker scheduled by the CBIC for March 15,” identified in the transcript as Dr. Abdul Hakim Mohammed. Catino read quotations she described as “deeply disturbing statements” attributed to that speaker and asked whether the mosque had been condemned for inviting him and whether a council member would attend the event to ensure “there’ll be no hateful rhetoric.”
Adam Small of University Heights said city leaders had been “incompetent” in responding to citizen concerns about radicalism and antisemitism. Small asserted that the mosque had refused to comply with a city request to condemn antisemitism and said the chosen keynote speaker, identified as Abdul Hakim Mohammed, has “a number of disturbing quotes” and alleged organizational ties to controversial figures. Small also referred to Solon’s antisemitism resolution (2023‑86) and accused city officials of deleting and blocking social media comments; those allegations were made as part of his public comment and are reported here as his assertions.
Both speakers made specific claims about past meetings and incidents, including a November meeting where a disturbance occurred. The transcript records their remarks in full; it does not record any formal council action, staff response, or a motion referencing the speakers’ concerns during the remainder of the meeting.
The council minutes and record in this meeting show the public comments were heard; no council directive, condemnation, or formal investigation is recorded in the transcript provided.
