HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2020.07.02 - 33400REPORT (MISC. #20219) July 2, 2020
BY: Commissioner Penny Luebs, Chairperson, Health, Safety and Human Services Committee
IN RE: MR #20219 — BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS— OAKLAND COUNTY DECLARES BLACK
LIVES MATTER
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Health, Safety and Human Services Committee, having reviewed the above -referenced resolution on
June 30, 2020, reports with the recommendation that the resolution be adopted.
Chairperson, on behalf of the Health, Safety and Human Services Committee, I move the acceptance of
the foregoing report.
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Commissionerfenny Luebs, District#16
Chairperson, Health, Safety and Human
Services Committee
HEALTH, SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE VOTE:
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Miller absent.
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #20219
BY: Commissioners David T. Woodward, District #19; Nancy Quarles, District #17; Penny Luebs, District
#16; Gary McGillivray, District #20
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSS — OAKLAND COUNTY DECLARES BLACK LIVES MATTER
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS generations of racial stigma and indoctrination has produced systemic bias ingrained in the
American psyche where, too often, black men, women and children are erroneously perceived as threats;
and
WHEREAS on February 26, 2012, Trayvon Martin — a teenager with his whole life ahead of him — was
going about his day when he was murdered by George Zimmerman; and
WHEREAS Trayvon Martin's death sparked a movement—the Black Lives Matter movement; and
WHEREAS on May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a black man, was killed in a shocking display of police
misconduct after he was taken into custody on suspicion of a minor charge; and
WHEREAS this unprovoked and intentional act of violence represents a complete disregard for the dignity
and sanctity of human life; and
WHEREAS the actions of those officers were a disgrace to the law enforcement community, and were so
horrific and egregious that they have galvanized the will of people across the United States of America, the
World, and all across Oakland County to confront issues of racial discrimination, inequality, and misconduct
by those in authority, and
WHEREAS this act of violence and other similar acts that have occurred across this country in recent years
must serve as call to action and mobilization for change to end systemic racism; and
WHEREAS targeted violence against persons of color and other minority groups will not stop until we all
stand up and refuse to tolerate such conduct, and
WHEREAS it is incumbent upon every person in this country to take a stand against racism, discrimination,
misconduct, and violence, and send a clear message that those behaviors have no place in a civilized
society; and
WHEREAS the Black Lives Matter movement has gained powerful traction in conjunction with recent tragic
events and bringing needed attention to the major flaws in our criminal justice system and institutionalized
racism that disproportionally target the black community and other communities of color; and
WHEREAS the killing of unarmed black men and women leaves us searching for answers to incredibly
infuriating questions; and
WHEREAS the fight for civil rights and equality is as real today as it was decades ago; and
WHEREAS slavery, racism and racial discord have stained American history from its earliest days and this
legacy continues to manifest today in mistrust between minority communities and law enforcement; and
WHEREAS throughout our nation's history, institutional and structural racism, and injustice have led to
deepening racial disparities across all sectors of society and have lasting negative consequences for our
communities, cities, and nation; and
WHEREAS shouting loudly that "Black Lives Matter" does not negate our commitment to ALL persons, but
rather elevates the struggle of persons of color to trust that our society values them. We must affirm that
their lives, specifically, matter; and
WHEREAS we must continue to support the Black Lives Matter movement; and
WHEREAS this is a pivotal moment in the history of our nation and the grievances expressed herein must
no longer be dismissed; and
WHEREAS any return to normality must also be accompanied with action and by a renewed commitment
to further civil rights and achieve social justice.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Oakland County Board of Commissioners declares Black
Lives Matters.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Oakland County Board of Commissioners joins with America in sharing
our exhaustion, disbelief, sorrow, and anger at these acts of violence and the underlying causes, and we
proclaim to stand in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners hereby commits to our community that our
county as an organization does not and will not tolerate, nor accept in any way, the violent or disrespectful
treatment of others that degrades dignity or disregard for human life.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners calls upon our community to join us in
committing ourselves as public servants and citizens to take mindful steps to fight such actions of violence
and disrespect by actively evaluating existing bias, being nontolerant of degrading comments and actions,
validating the experiences and feelings of people of color, and taking positive action to advance equality in
America.
Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
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Commissioner David T. Woodward Commis io er Penny Luebs
Distric #19 District #16
Comm sioner N�{ y Quarles Commis`sionneary6Gillivray '
District #17 n District #20
Resolution #20219
June 25, 2020
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Health, Safety and Human Services Committee. There were
no objections.
Resolution #20219
July 2, 2020
Moved by Jackson seconded by Weipert the resolutions on the amended Consent Agenda be adopted
(with accompanying reports being accepted).
AYES: Hoffman, Jackson, Kochenderfer, Kowall, Kuhn, Long, Luebs, Markham, McGillivray,
Middleton, Miller, Nelson, Powell, Quarles, Spisz, Taub, Weipert, Woodward, Zack,
Gershenson. (20)
NAYS: None. (0)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolutions on the amended Consent Agenda were adopted
(with accompanying reports being accepted).
I HEREBYAPPRDVE THIS RESOLUTION
CHIEF DEPUTY COUNTY EXECUTIVE
ACTING PURSUANT TO MCL 45.559A (7)
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on July 2, 2020,
with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at Pontiac,
Michigan this 2nd day of July, 2020.
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Lisa Brown, Oakland County