Agenda 10-01-19 Item 8-a - Minutes

Browse Search

14 1 • encourage civic, patriotic, historical, educational, artistic, religious, and economic 2 organizations to organize and participate in anniversary activities. 3 4 This the 3rd day of September 2019. 5 6 PUBLIC COMMENT: 7 Allison Mahaley, HRC member, thanked the Board of County Commissioners for its 8 service and for considering this proclamation, and said she wanted to speak to the BOCC as a 9 white woman, a southerner and one who has worked in public schools. She said this 10 Resolution, and the work that will come out of it, is greatly needed. She said the BOCC is 11 charged to fully engage in this work because it is made up of elected officials, and most are 12 white. She encouraged the Board to take on this work, as it is personally and systemically 13 transformational. 14 Anna Richards said she retired to Chapel Hill 6 years ago, and is the President of the 15 Chapel Hill-Carrboro chapter of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People 16 (NAACP). She said she thought this area was an enlightened one, and she has been shocked 17 and appalled at the lack of information about the true history of this country. She said everyone 18 needs to understand America's history, lest it be repeated. She said this Resolution, and the 19 work that it engages, allows for further dialogue as a government, a community and an 20 organization. 21 Commissioner Price said Orange County is involved with the HRC and the Department 22 on Aging with the event on September 16tn 23 24 A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Greene for the 25 Board to approve the Proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign the Proclamation on behalf 26 of the Board. 27 28 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 29 30 d. Resolution Condemning the Ku Klux Klan and Other Similar Groups 31 The Board considered voting to approve a Resolution Condemning the Ku Klux Klan 32 (KKK) and Other Similar Groups and authorizing the Chair to sign. 33 34 Chair Rich said this Resolution is in response to the KKK demonstrating in front of the 35 Orange County Courthouse in Hillsborough. She said there had been some rumors that these 36 demonstrators came from Caswell County, and she received a call from Sterling Carter in 37 Caswell County, who said his County does not want to be known as a place that sends people 38 to Orange County to lead a KKK protest. She said both counties decided to write a Resolution 39 together, and to take a public stand condemning the KKK, and other such organizations. She 40 said the Resolution will also be sent to the other counties statewide. 41 42 BACKGROUND: The Ku Klux Klan, consisting of numerous independent local groups 43 throughout the United States, is an organization that symbolizes hatred. 44 45 Based on recent events in the Orange County community and nationwide, BOCC Chair Penny 46 Rich has proposed that the Orange County Board of Commissioners consider the attached 47 Resolution condemning the Ku Klux Klan and other similar groups. The Caswell County Board 48 of Commissioners will consider a similar Resolution at its September 3, 2019 Board meeting. 49 Orange County as a diverse open community stands in direct opposition to the activities of the 50 Ku Klux Klan and other similar groups. 51