ECDC committee approves resolution of support to affirm freedom of speech, religious expression

LOMBARD, Illinois—On Tuesday night, the Economic & Community Development Committee (ECDC) unanimously recommended a resolution to support and affirm freedom of speech and religious freedom to the Lombard Board of Trustees. The resolution arose in the wake of the actions by City of Chicago officials to refuse zoning permissions to Chick-fil-A because of the opinions expressed by the company's president on same sex marriage. The resolution will be considered by the Village Board at its August 23 meeting.

“Our committee believes that Lombard should lead in every area, particularly in support of our local businesses when their fundamental rights are threatened,” said Trustee Peter Breen, Chair of the ECDC. “The message of this resolution is that Lombard will treat every business equally, without regard to the constitutionally protected religious and political opinions of the leaders of that business.”

The resolution encourages residents to support events like National Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day and other events in support of local businesses. It also encourages residents to support outstanding businesses in the Village, which create jobs and bring new people and additional revenue to Lombard.

The resolution particularly recognizes that “the residents and business owners of the Village, and the members of this Village Board, hold a wide range of religious and political opinions on any number of issues of public concern–and all of us share an equal right to robustly express those opinions in public without fear of government retribution.”

The resolution will be on the agenda of the Village Board meeting August 23. The Board meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall and can be viewed live on The Lombard Channel, Comcast Channel 6 in Lombard or AT&T U-Verse channel 99 or streaming live or on demand on the Village website at www.villageoflombard.org.