The resolution noted minority citizens experience inequalities across many aspects of daily living and said those residents deserve to be treated fairly, with dignity, and to have their humanity, existence, and contributions valued.
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“I just want to thank everyone again for your support,” said Councilwoman Ami Vitori, who introduced the resolution. “I know sometimes people feel like this is lip service or just words on paper, but our Constitution is words on paper. I’m just hoping this is a lens with which we can think all about all the policies we enact in the city on behalf of the Black community.”
Mayor Nicole Condrey said she ran for the position as a “patriot, not a politician” and felt citizens voted her in to be a patriot, which she defined in part as a person who takes action.
“I do feel a bit about what Ami said about this, this resolution feels like it put forth for political reasons. I’m just being blunt about this,” Condrey said.
She said it’s important to have a dialog and feels like the diversity of our opinions is also the issue at hand.
“Diversity makes us stronger as a team and as a community,” she said.
Condrey said people need to demonstrate through their actions, not through words. She said she would rather live it out instead of signing a piece of paper because it doesn’t mean anything just to sign something.
“I do agree our society needs change,” Condrey said. “That change comes down to living our lives each day every single day and respect those around us no matter where they come from. And realizing that everyone around us has something to teach us no matter where they come from.”
“I think that was spoken with really good white privilege,” Vitori said. “I think for myself, if it means to be political so I can stand up for other communities that have been systematically overlooked for 400 years, I’ve really never considered myself much as a politician in the way I live my life, but if that what it means, then maybe today I’m a politician. I’m happy to stand up for this community and live that every day of my life.”
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