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9 <br /> Commissioner Bedford said it is never too late to make apologies like this as a basic <br /> step in the right direction. She thanked Chair Price and Commissioner Richards for bringing this <br /> resolution forward. <br /> Commissioner Richards said she and Chair Price feel they are not apologizing as a <br /> Board, but are expressing compassion for those who were affected by this and their families, <br /> and for the loss of dignity they experienced because those in control did nothing to stop it. She <br /> said they have no idea how many total people were victims of racial terror lynchings in Orange <br /> County. She said in her own family, her mother tells a story about how her family always left a <br /> light on for an uncle who got in trouble for looking wrong and never came home. She said this <br /> story is probably told countless times by countless families. She said she appreciates the <br /> gesture of this resolution. <br /> As a member of the Orange County Community Remembrance Coalition and a member <br /> of the Marker Committee, Commissioner Greene recognized that a lot of work has gone toward <br /> this moment. She said there are a lot of people who are not in the room who should be thanked <br /> for their help including James Williams, Prinny Anderson, Glenn Hinson and his class of <br /> students who have been working hard to document part of this story, and others. <br /> Chair Price said the Coalition was started by her and James Williams a number of years <br /> ago to bring some of these stories to light. She said that EJI only looks at a certain period of <br /> time (1875-1940), but there was racial terror before then and after as well. She said the <br /> Coalition worked to get EJI to include 1869, the Reconstruction period. She said there are many <br /> more stories in Orange County that they are aware of that people don't talk about or will only <br /> discuss with certain people. She thanked the Board for agreeing to pass this proclamation. <br /> c. Proclamation Designating September 2022 as Suicide Prevention Month <br /> The Board considered approving a proclamation designating September 2022 as Suicide <br /> Prevention Month in Orange County. <br /> BACKGROUND: This month recognizes suicide as a serious public health problem that can <br /> have long-lasting effects on individuals, families and communities. Everyone also recognizes <br /> that suicide is preventable and that everyone can help by learning the warning signs, promoting <br /> prevention and resilience and making necessary social changes. <br /> Commissioner Fowler read the following Proclamation: <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 2022 <br /> AS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH <br /> WHEREAS, September is known as National Suicide Prevention Month and is intended to help <br /> raise awareness surrounding suicide prevention resources available in the community; and <br /> WHEREAS, suicidal thoughts can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, race, orientation, <br /> income level, religion or background; and <br /> WHEREAS, according to the North Carolina Injury Violence and Prevention Branch, suicide is <br /> the second leading cause of death for youth in North Carolina ages 10 to 18, and the third <br /> leading cause of death for those ages 19 to 341; and <br /> WHEREAS, from 2016 to 2020, Orange County lost 72 lives to suicide 2; and <br />