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16 <br /> WHEREAS, since the desegregation of schools, Black/African American students still are <br /> denied access to quality learning, are directed away from advanced courses, and face <br /> disciplinary actions at a disproportionate rate from white counterparts; and <br /> WHEREAS, as evidenced in morbidity/mortality rates, Black/African Americans received and <br /> still receive inadequate and sometimes detrimental healthcare and biased treatment by medical <br /> professionals; and <br /> WHEREAS, Black/African Americans have been and continue to be unjustly targeted, <br /> mistreated and abused by law enforcement and the criminal justice system; and <br /> WHEREAS, systemic racism in America, which originated over 400 years ago and has evolved <br /> and persists to the present day, has manifested itself as a specific trauma within Black/African <br /> Americans and the Black experience, and has affected American society as a whole; <br /> NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of County <br /> Commissioners, on behalf of the people of Orange County, affirms the dignity and humanity of <br /> all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, <br /> religion or creed; and <br /> BE IT RESOLVED, that Orange County apologizes for its role in the enslavement of <br /> Black/African American people, its enforcement of segregation, its promotion of prejudicial <br /> policies, and its implementation of discriminatory and detrimental practices and procedures; and <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of Commissioners calls on the <br /> federal government to work toward the immediate enactment of the following policies and bills: <br /> a. A program to provide reparations to the descendants of enslaved Africans sufficient to <br /> eliminate the racial wealth gap; <br /> b. A program to provide a universal basic income to all citizens sufficient to meet each <br /> person's basic needs; <br /> c. A program to provide a guaranteed federal or federally-funded living-wage job to all <br /> citizens; <br /> d. An increase in the federal minimum wage to $15/hr. or higher, with regular increases <br /> to account for increases in cost of living and inflation; <br /> e. A program to provide universal health care; <br /> f. H.R. 40, a bill to establish a federal Commission to Study and Develop Reparations for <br /> Black/African Americans. <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of County Commissioners hereby <br /> is committed to working toward the elimination of racial bias and individual racism, the <br /> dismantling of institutional racism and the eradication of structural racism; and <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of County Commissioners will <br /> support and augment the work of the One Orange Government Alliance on Race & Equity <br /> [CARE] Team; and <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of County Commissioners will <br /> proceed to collaborate with schools boards, county departments, governmental agencies, <br />