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AGENDA BILL Agenda Item No. 5(C) Date: June 2, 2015 To: El Cerrito City Council From: Karen Pinkos, Assistant City Manager, Staff Liaison to Human Relations Commission Subject: Proclamation Declaring June 12, 2015 as “Loving Day” ACTION REQUESTED Approve a proclamation declaring June 12, 2015 as “Loving Day” in the City of El Cerrito and authorize the Mayor to send letters of support to federal and state elected officials urging the recognition of Loving Day. BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS Part of the mission of the City’s Human Relations Commission (HRC) is to recognize the racial, ethnic, religious and cultural diversity of the El Cerrito community. The HRC has endeavored to do this in part by recommending to the City Council the adoption of proclamations or resolutions to honor diverse communities, cultures, and events. At its May 6, 2015 meeting, the HRC unanimously moved to recommend that the City Council recognize “Loving Day” for the first time on June 12, 2015. Loving Day is a movement that began in 2004 by then-graduate student Ken Tanabe in New York to recognize the day that the United States Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling in Loving v Virginia (1967) that outlawed interracial marriage in the United States. Mildred and Richard Loving, an interracial couple, were married in 1958 in Washington, DC because it was illegal for them to marry in their home state of Virginia. When they tried to return home to live permanently, they were arrested, convicted, and threatened with jail time unless they left the state. The Lovings decided to fight this ruling, eventually winning in a unanimous decision by the U.S. Supreme Court after nine years of appeals. This ruling is considered one of the most notable civil rights decisions in U.S. history. Loving Day has grown into a celebration of multicultural community, and provides an annual opportunity for people to learn history's lessons while envisioning ways to improve the future. More information on Loving Day can be found at www.lovingday.org. To that end, the HRC requests that in considering this proclamation, that the Mayor be authorized to send letters to Federal and State elected officials informing them of the City’s action. The intent of the letter is to encourage more cities, the State of California, and the Federal Government to celebrate Loving Day as a day of recognition for civil rights, multicultural communities, and bringing people together of different races, cultures, nationalities, and religious beliefs. ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No., S(C) STRATEGIC PLAN CONSIDERATIONS Adoption of the proposed proclamation would help fulfill Goal C: Deepen a Sense of Place and Community Identity. Specifically, adoption of the proposed proclamation would contribute to achieving the following strategies: • Celebrate the City's diversity by welcoming residents of all ages and cultures and encouraging their civic involvement. • Promote arts, culture, and community celebrations. Reviewed by: Attachments: 1. Accompanying Proclamation 2. Proposed Letter to Elected Officials Page 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(C) Attachment 1 CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL CERRITO PROCLAMATION Recognizing June 12, 2015 as Loving Day in the City of El Cerrito WHEREAS, Mildred and Richard Loving were arrested in 1958 for violating Virginia’s felony law prohibiting interracial marriage; and WHEREAS, the Loving family was convicted of violating the law and given a suspended sentence provided that they did not return to their home in the Commonwealth of Virginia as a couple for 25 years; and WHEREAS, the Loving family did not back down but took their case to the United States Supreme Court and won, overturning their conviction and creating a landmark civil rights victory; and WHEREAS, their case Loving v Virginia (1967) ended all laws prohibiting interracial marriage nationwide, paving the way for all consenting adults to marry the one they love; and WHEREAS, an annual celebration known as Loving Day is held on June 12 in communities throughout the nation to commemorate and celebrate the anniversary of the 1967 Supreme Court decision; and WHEREAS, our country, state and region are moving forward in the 21st Century as a multiracial and multicultural society; and WHEREAS, the City of El Cerrito joins other communities to find a common vision from our interwoven past to build a society free of racism for the benefit of our collective future. NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of El Cerrito does hereby declare June 12, 2015 as Loving Day in the City of El Cerrito, and invites everyone to recognize this day as a celebration of multiculturalism, and to reflect on the Loving family and all of the pioneers who have and will continue to fight for the civil right to love. Dated: June 2, 2015 Mark Friedman, Mayor ---PAGE BREAK--- OFFICE OF THE MAYOR Mark Friedman CITY HALL 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 Telephone (510) 215-4305 Fax (510) 215-4319 http://www.el-cerrito.org June 3, 2015 President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 RE: Proclamation declaring June 12, 2015 “Loving Day” in the City of El Cerrito Dear President Obama, On June 2, 2015, the City Council of the City of El Cerrito issued a proclamation declaring June 12, 2015 “Loving Day” in the City of El Cerrito. The City Council would like to encourage you, along with your colleagues in the United States Congress, to recognize “Loving Day” at the Federal level by proclamation as an official day of celebration in the United States. Loving Day is a movement that began in 2004 by then-graduate student Ken Tanabe in New York to recognize the day that the United States Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling in Loving v Virginia (1967) that outlawed interracial marriage in the United States. As you know, this ruling is considered one of the most notable civil rights decisions in U.S. history. Loving Day has grown into a celebration of multicultural community, and provides an annual opportunity for people to learn history's lessons while envisioning ways to improve the future. More information on Loving Day can be found at www.lovingday.org. To that end, the City Council, upon recommendation of the City’s Human Relations Commission, proclaimed June 12, 2015 “Loving Day” in the City of El Cerrito to encourage our community to recognize this day as a celebration of multiculturalism, and to reflect on the Loving family and all of the pioneers who have and will continue to fight for the civil right to love. We respectfully request that you consider issuing a proclamation as well, to celebrate Loving Day in the United States as a day of recognition for civil rights, multicultural communities, and bringing people together of different races, cultures, nationalities, and religious beliefs. Sincerely, Mark Friedman, Mayor City of El Cerrito cc: U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein U. S. Senator Barbara Boxer Congressman Mark DeSaulnier Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., State of California California Senator Loni Hancock California Assembly Member Tony Thurmond Agenda Item No. 5(C) Attachment 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- OFFICE OF THE MAYOR Mark Friedman CITY HALL 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 Telephone (510) 215-4305 Fax (510) 215-4319 http://www.el-cerrito.org June 3, 2015 Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. State of California c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173 Sacramento, CA 95814 RE: Proclamation declaring June 12, 2015 “Loving Day” in the City of El Cerrito Dear Governor Brown, On June 2, 2015, the City Council of the City of El Cerrito issued a proclamation declaring June 12, 2015 “Loving Day” in the City of El Cerrito. The City Council would like to encourage you, along with your colleagues in the California Legislature, to recognize “Loving Day” at the State level by proclamation as an official day of celebration in California. Loving Day is a movement that began in 2004 by then-graduate student Ken Tanabe in New York to recognize the day that the United States Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling in Loving v Virginia (1967) that outlawed interracial marriage in the United States. As you know, this ruling is considered one of the most notable civil rights decisions in U.S. history. Loving Day has grown into a celebration of multicultural community, and provides an annual opportunity for people to learn history's lessons while envisioning ways to improve the future. More information on Loving Day can be found at www.lovingday.org. To that end, the City Council, upon recommendation of the City’s Human Relations Commission, proclaimed June 12, 2015 “Loving Day” in the City of El Cerrito to encourage our community to recognize this day as a celebration of multiculturalism, and to reflect on the Loving family and all of the pioneers who have and will continue to fight for the civil right to love. We respectfully request that you consider issuing a proclamation as well, to celebrate Loving Day in California as a day of recognition for civil rights, multicultural communities, and bringing people together of different races, cultures, nationalities, and religious beliefs. Sincerely, Mark Friedman, Mayor City of El Cerrito cc: California Senator Loni Hancock California Assembly Member Tony Thurmond Agenda Item No. 5(C) Attachment 2