2024-04 - designate Black History Month

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DocuSign Envelope ID: D1 D7BO29-ODBD-4276-9A2E-BOA56F6EO688 RESOLUTION 2024-04 BY: Baker, Bullock, Kepple, Marx, Rader, Shachner, Strebig A RESOLUTION to join with states, municipalities, and other jurisdictions around the country to designate February as Black History Month in the City of Lakewood, Ohio by celebrating African -American culture and paying tribute to the contributions of African -Americans. WHEREAS, Africans were brought involuntarily to the shores of the United States as early as the 17th century; and, WHEREAS, African Americans have suffered enslavement, mob violence, segregation, and denial of the fundamental rights promised by a Nation in which "all men are created equal"; and, WHEREAS, the reverberations of those injustices, inequalities, and traumas continue to echo through the society of the United States; and, WHEREAS, this nation is built on the voluntary and involuntary contributions of African Americans both known and unknown throughout our history; and, WHEREAS, African Americans are a vital part of Lakewood's community; and WHEREAS, in 2020 the City of Lakewood established the citizen led Anti -Racism Task Force (ARTF); and, WHEREAS, in 2023 the City of Lakewood followed the recommendation of the ARTF to begin work on a Racial Equity Plan; and WHERAS, by recognizing and celebrating African Americans, the City of Lakewood strives to take another step to grow Anti -Racist culture in Lakewood, that opposes discrimination and welcomes diversity. Now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO: Section 1. That this Council does hereby declare the month of February 2024 as Black History Month in Lakewood, Ohio and calls on all citizens to help recognize and pay tribute to the contributions of African Americans in our community. Section 2. It is found and determined that all formal actions of this Council concerning and relating to the passage of this resolution were adopted in an open meeting of this Council, and that all such deliberations of this Council and any of its committees that resulted in such formal action, were in meetings open to the public, in compliance with all legal requirements. Section 3. This Resolution is here by declared to be an emergency measure necessary for The immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health, safety and welfare in the City and for the usual daily operation of the City for the reasons set forth and defined in the preamble