* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Holton
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Race Equality Week - Erasing Racism - Connecting People -
September 26, 2005 - September 30, 2005
FOR the purpose of joining the National League of Cities and cities across the country in celebrating the 6th Annual Race Equality Week, a continuation of a multi-year effort to improve race relations, achieve racial justice, and create inclusive communities, and proclaiming September 26, 2005 - September 30, 2005 Racial Equality Week in Baltimore City.
Body
Recitals
During September 26 through September 30, 2005, the National League of Cities and cities across the country will celebrate the 6th Annual Race Equality Week. The event grew from an effort, in 2000, of the former president of the organization who challenged city leaders to focus on improving race relations in their communities. Each National League of Cities president since that time has continued the agenda and continued to urge city leaders to do their part to improve race relations and achieve racial justice.
This year's celebration will include a special Race Equality Forum in Washington, D.C., to explore ways to move race relations and racial justice work forward. An invited group of city leaders and national stakeholders will focus on engaging key groups in a shared agenda and identifying specific opportunities for collaboration to improve race relations.
The incumbent Executive Director of the organization, which is the oldest and largest national organization representing municipal governments throughout the United States with a mission of strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership, and governance, proclaims that this year's Race Equality Week is particularly timely in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The National League President urged local leaders to use Race Equality Week to focus on ways to improve race relations and to ensure an inclusive community because: "While people from all walks of life have been affected by the hurricane, the images transmitted from hurricane- ravaged areas reveal an undeniable trend - that many of those endangered and left behind were poor people of color concentrated in hearts of cities like New Orleans and Biloxi."
Over the years, the leaders of this nation's cities have demonstrated a sustained commitment to improving race relations and promoting racial justice in their communities; Baltimore, too, continues to fight that good fight and joins cities across this country in proclaiming September 26, 2005 - September 30, 2005 Racial Equality Week in Baltimore City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Body joins the National League of Cities and cities across the country in the 6th Annual Race Equality Week, in the continuation of a multi- year effort to improve race relations, achieve racial justice, and create inclusive communities, and proclaims September 26, 2005 - September 30, 2005 Racial Equality Week in Baltimore City.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the President of the National League of Cities, the Director of the Community Relations Commission, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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