Highland Park mayor delivers condolences after shootings, cites city's work addressing antisemitism
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Summary
Mayor Rotering opened the Dec. 15 council meeting with condolences for victims of recent shootings at Brown University and in Australia, described Highland Park's ongoing work to combat antisemitism, and noted the city received recognition at the North American Mayor's Summit Against Antisemitism for adopting the IHRA working definition by ordinance.
Mayor Rotering opened the Dec. 15 meeting by acknowledging "profound grief" following shootings at Brown University (Rhode Island) and Bondi Beach (Australia) and extended condolences to victims and their families. "On behalf of the City of Highland Park we extend our deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and to everyone whose sense of safety has been shaken," he said on the public record.
The mayor connected the national and international events to local concerns, noting Highland Park has local ties to Brown students and that the community has endured recent mass-violence events that continue to affect residents. He described Highland Park's regional partnerships and said the city was honored at the North American Mayor's Summit Against Antisemitism, where he accepted an award recognizing the city's work. He credited Councilmember Annette Littler and volunteers for advancing adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, which the mayor said the city codified by ordinance.
The mayor also urged practical measures beyond proclamations: strengthening security at houses of worship, continuing outreach with clergy, using Department of Justice training the city received, and investing in education and community programs to prevent hate. He invited residents to support local food pantries and other holiday drives and asked the public to help neighbors in need.
Why it matters: The mayor placed Highland Park's local safety and anti-hate work in a broader national context, reaffirming municipal commitments to combat antisemitism and support affected families. The mayor's remarks were entered on the record and referenced the city's ordinance adopting the IHRA working definition as an explicit policy step.
