Agenda Item No. 4.A.
EL CERRITO CITY COUNCIL PROCLAMATION
Recognizing June 12, 2021 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, our country, state and region are moving forward in the 21st Century
as a multiracial and multicultural society; 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, this year the City of El Cerrito will plan to hold virtual events in honor
of its sixth annual Loving Day Celebration, celebrating the 51st Anniversary of Loving v
Virginia recognizing Racial Equality, Marriage Equality, and Human Equality; 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, 2021 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 the pioneers who have and will continue to fight for the civil right to love.
Dated: June 1, 2021
Paul Fadelli, Mayor
