WHEREAS, the third Monday of January is observed nationally and worldwide as Martin Luther King Jr. Day; and
WHEREAS, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was first declared following his assassination in 1968, in observance of a lifetime and legacy of peacefully advocating for civil rights for African Americans and the removal of the shackles of oppression wherever they remain; and
WHEREAS, it is our responsibility as a City, community, and part of the broader national society to honor his work and his life by continuing on his dream of ensuring that all of us can live in a world where we are not judged nor judge others by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character; and
WHEREAS, our City is devoted to continuing to honor the legacy of Dr. King by ensuring that diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for all underpins all of the work our City sets out to do;
WHEREAS, our City has made great strides in the past two years, including forming the Racial Equity in Policing Commission and supporting their continuing work; hiring the City’s first Chief Equity Officer; and launching a deep study to develop strategies to ensure that as our City grows, we are not losing our historic and traditionally diverse neighborhoods and businesses to gentrification;
WHEREAS, in 2022 our City will continue to honor Dr. King’s legacy by integrating equity into our work in new ways, including finalizing and implementing the City’s first citywide equity plan; developing the Fiscal Year 2023 budget through the lens of equity; and improving access for all residents to joining our citizen advisory boards and commissions;
WHEREAS, the City continues to support and strengthen the work of the City’s Human Rights Commission, the Commission on Racial Equity in Policing, and the Accessibility Commission; and
WHEREAS, while Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream has not yet been fully realized, it is my hope and belief that together, we can make his dream come true in our lifetimes – not just in Salt Lake City, but everywhere. We all must do our part to lift the world from the “quicksands of racial injustice.”
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Erin Mendenhall, Mayor of Salt Lake City, proclaim January 17th, 2022, as:
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Remembrance in Salt Lake City
To view an electronic copy of the signed proclamation, click here.