Proclaim July 2, 2024 to be the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act Title VI Day
Whereas, the Civil Rights Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964; and
Whereas, this landmark piece of legislation has played a pivotal role in dismantling legal segregation, paving a path for civic, political, educational, and economic progress and opportunity; and lending to a wave of other civil rights laws and new protections, such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Fair Housing Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act; and
Whereas, included among the Civil Rights Act’s eleven titles is Title VI, which provides protection from discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs, services, and activities. Additional regulations and executive orders since enactment have expanded and grown Civil Rights Title VI obligations and responsibilities to include environmental justice, Language Access, the advancement of equity, and support of underserved communities through government. The City of Portland, as a recipient of federal funding, is subject to Title VI; and
Whereas, despite significant progress, entrenched systemic and institutional racism creates and sustains barriers and disparities that negatively impact communities of color, immigrant and refugee communities, and other systemically excluded communities in housing, employment, income, health, education, transportation, and all major aspects of life; and
Whereas, nationally, the protections and progress of the Civil Rights Movement are being eroded, undermined, and attacked; and
Whereas, the City of Portland acknowledges the responsibilities and role of government in addressing the pervasive disparities faced by communities of color, immigrant and refugee communities, and other institutionally oppressed communities because such discrimination poses a threat to the health, safety, and welfare of our entire community, and humbly acknowledges that we have much work to do; and
Whereas, the City of Portland strives to uphold and practice its core values of anti-racism, equity, transparency, communication, collaboration, and fiscal responsibilities in support of community members and employees; and
Whereas, the City of Portland is committed to its core values through embodying the objectives of the Civil Rights Act to assure that no person, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, including limited English proficiency, shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination (including disparate treatment or disparate impact) in the City’s programs, services, activities, or administrative acts, as required by Title VI; and
Whereas, City Council created the Civil Rights Title IV and Equity Program and the Language Access Program in the Office of Equity and Human Rights to work with partners across all City bureaus to coordinate the City’s civil rights, racial equity, and language access efforts and help the City become a national leader in defining and achieving equitable outcomes and eliminating disparities among Portlanders; and
Whereas, Portland honors those who fought, and continue to fight for civil rights; and celebrates 60 years of increased opportunities and access for communities of color, immigrant and refugee communities, and other systemically excluded communities while recognizing that continued action is necessary to achieve the full promise of equity, equal protection, and justice for all; and
Whereas, the City of Portland shall continue to identify and implement solutions to improve equity and uphold the ideas the Civil Rights Act represents and do all that is necessary to ensure all people can thrive.
Now, therefore, I, Ted Wheeler, Mayor of the City of Portland, Oregon, the “City of Roses,” do hereby proclaim July 2, 2024, to be the
60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act Title VI Day
In Portland and encourage all residents to observe this day.