Michigan City council OKs measure panning anti-Muslim acts

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (AP) - The common council of a northwestern Indiana city that was home to one of the first mosques in the U.S. has passed a resolution condemning violence, bigotry and hateful speech toward Muslims.

The Michigan City Common Council approved the resolution 7-2 on Tuesday. The two council members voting against the resolution said they favored a resolution covering all religions.

The (Michigan City) News-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/1oZHXLv ) quotes Councilman Al Whitlow as saying "the expression of hate through violent acts is inappropriate in this country."

The passage comes two days after vandals spray-painted vulgar graffiti on an exterior wall of the headquarters of the Islamic Society of North America in the Indianapolis suburb of Plainfield.

Syrian and Lebanese immigrants formed the Islamic Center of Michigan City in 1914.