请求撤销决议 (Rescind)

Dear Mayor and Members of Richmond City Council, I am writing to ask a member of Council who voted with the prevailing side on Resolution R26/14-10 to serve a Notice of Motion to Rescind Resolution R26/14-10 under Part 10 of Richmond Council Procedure Bylaw No. 7560. My request is not based on support for the disputed AI-generated image, nor is it an objection to Council condemning racism or discriminatory speech. The concern is the process by which the City used a formal Council resolution to act against an identifiable private citizen. On July 27, 2026, Council adopted R26/14-10, which: 1. characterized the citizen’s messaging as discriminatory; 2. formally requested an apology; and 3. directed that the matter be forwarded to the BC Human Rights Tribunal. Serious questions remain about the process leading to that decision, including: • whether Council reviewed the complete underlying publication before voting; • whether Council had an accurate translation and the full context of the publication; • whether the affected citizen received any advance notice that Council intended to formally consider and condemn his conduct; • whether he was given any reasonable opportunity to provide his explanation or relevant evidence before the vote; • whether Council considered the fact that the disputed image had reportedly already been removed and that the author had already publicly responded to the controversy; • what legal or procedural mechanism Council intended when it directed that the matter be “forwarded” to the BC Human Rights Tribunal; and • what action, if any, was ultimately taken pursuant to that direction. These questions concern procedural fairness and responsible use of public authority. Council absolutely has the right and responsibility to oppose racism. But opposing discrimination and respecting due process are not competing principles. A municipal government can and should do both. When government formally condemns an identifiable private citizen, basic fairness should require that Council understand the complete factual record and provide the affected person a reasonable opportunity to respond before exercising the institutional authority of the City against that individual. For that reason, I respectfully ask a Councillor who supported R26/14-10 to: Serve a Notice of Motion to Rescind Resolution R26/14-10 pursuant to Part 10 of Council Procedure Bylaw No. 7560. If Council believes that a public statement on discrimination remains necessary, it can adopt a new resolution addressing the principle of non-discrimination without making findings against an identifiable private citizen before a fair process has occurred. Rescinding R26/14-10 would not mean that Council endorses the original image or the underlying article. It would mean that Richmond City Council recognizes an equally important democratic principle: Government should condemn ideas when necessary, but it should exercise particular care before formally condemning an individual citizen through the machinery and authority of municipal government. I also respectfully ask that this correspondence be circulated to all members of Council and included in the public record associated with any future consideration of R26/14-10. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,