City Council of the City of El Cerrito Proclamation
Recognizing June 12, 2015 as Loving Day in the City of El Cerrito
WHEREAS, Mildred and Richard Loving were arrested in 1958 for violating Virginia's felony law prohibiting interracial marriage; and
WHEREAS, the Loving family was convicted of violating the law and given a suspended sentence provided that they did not return to their home in the Commonwealth of Virginia as a couple for 25 years; and
WHEREAS, the Loving family did not back down but took their case to the United States Supreme Court and won, overturning their conviction and creating a landmark civil rights victory; and
WHEREAS, their case Loving v Virginia (1967) ended all laws prohibiting interracial marriage nationwide, paving the way for all consenting adults to marry the one they love; and
WHEREAS, an annual celebration known as Loving Day is held on June 12 in communities throughout the nation to commemorate and celebrate the anniversary of the 1967 Supreme Court decision; and
WHEREAS, our country, state and region are moving forward in the 21st Century as a multiracial and multicultural society; and
WHEREAS, the City of El Cerrito joins other communities to find a common vision from our interwoven past to build a society free of racism for the benefit of our collective future.
NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of El Cerrito does hereby declare June 12, 2015 as Loving Day in the City of El Cerrito, and invites everyone to recognize this day as a celebration of multiculturalism, and to reflect on the Loving family and all of the pioneers who have and will continue to fight for the civil right to love.
Dated: June 2, 2015
(Signed)
Mark Friedman, Mayor