The City of Brisbane Condemns Racism
At the June 4, 2020 City Council meeting, City Councilmembers and Mayor O’Connell closed the meeting in memory of George Floyd, an African American man who was killed by police on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Earlier that day, the City put up memorial signs honoring George Floyd and countless others who lost their lives due to police brutality. This was the first time in Brisbane history that someone with no prior affiliation with Brisbane was remembered on the City signboards. Earlier that week, Police Chief Lisa Macias also issued a personal statement that was shared widely with community members and both Councilmembers Cunningham and Conway addressed racial injustice in their Letters from Council, which the City has been sending out each Sunday since mid-April.
In response to Floyd's death, protests calling an end to police brutality and racial discrimination quickly spread across the country and abroad. On June 6, 2020, a group of local Brisbane residents also wanted to speak out against Floyd's death and organized a vigil in the Brisbane Community Park. Over 150 residents peacefully gathered to honor George Floyd and stand for justice, not just for this generation but for our future children.
On June 18th, the City Council adopted a Resolution affirming the City’s commitment to stand in solidarity with the Black community and condemn racism.
Solidarity Posters, such as the at the top of this page, were created by the City of Brisbane and made available for the public to purchase starting on June 24th after a desire was expressed by members of the community to be able to do so.
The City of Brisbane raised the Black Lives Matter flag on July 1st in a special flag-raising ceremony that was attended by over 30 community members. The flag will fly through the month of July at five City facilities: Fire Station 81, the Public Works Corp. Yard, the Brisbane Marina, City Hall, and the Community Park. See the video from the flag-raising ceremony here.
The City also Recognizes the Importance of Juneteenth
Juneteenth is an American holiday celebrated annually on June 19. It commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union general Gordon Granger read federal orders in Galveston, Texas, that all previously enslaved people in Texas were free. On June 19, 1866, the first Juneteenth anniversary celebration happened. Since then, celebrations in certain regions of the United States have continued the tradition of honoring this important day. In 1872, a group of former slaves put together $800 and purchased 10 acres of land in Houston, Texas, for the city’s annual Juneteenth celebrations, and they named the space Emancipation Park, where Juneteenth celebrations are held even now. On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth became an official Texas state holiday through the efforts of Al Edwards, an African American state legislator. The successful passage of this bill marked Juneteenth as the first emancipation celebration granted official state recognition and as of today, 47 out of the 50 states recognize the day as a state holiday, California included | see earlier legislation from 2018 and 2003. Existing law requires the Governor to proclaim the 3rd Saturday in June as "Juneteenth National Freedom Day: A day of observance" and urges all Californians to join in celebrating this day to honor and reflect on the significant roles that African-Americans have played in the history of the United States and how they have enriched society through their steadfast commitment to promoting freedom, brotherhood, and equality. Click here to read more about Juneteenth.
