Excerpt of the Minutes from the December 6, 2004 Business Meeting
Item 6 – Report from Special Committee to Consider Renaming Airport Road
Mayor Foy stated that the Committee spent two and one-half days discussing the proposal as a group, and would present their report tonight. He noted that the facilitators for the Committee were OpenSource Leadership Solutions, Inc., adding that two members of the Leadership were present tonight and would walk the Council through the report. Mayor Foy called upon Chantelle Fisher-Borne and Calvin Allen to make the presentation.
Mr. Allen noted this is a compilation of two and a half days of face-to-face work, and recognized the commitment made by Committee members. Mr. Allen noted the following:
Directives from the Town Council:
OpenSource’s Work with the Committee:
o Roll as a Committee member
o Perceptions of race relations in Chapel Hill and its relation to this issue
o What would success look like?
Addressing the Directives:
Promoting Constructive Dialogue across Line of Difference
Consensus Decision-making Process
· Is a process beyond a simple vote – respects will of majority but captures nuances within the majority and minority votes
· Does not mean that5 everyone agreed
· Everyone is engaged in decision-making and has a voice
· Minority and majority reports included
Chantelle Fisher-Borne noted that the consensus decision-making process was not a yes/no vote. Committee members were asked to voice their opinion on a range of support from one to five - one meaning not support the recommendation at all, and five meaning they gave their full support.
Ms. Fisher-Borne then highlighted the recommendations of the Committee, as follows:
Primary Recommendation:
Change the name of Airport Road to “Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard” and also have separate street signs underneath with the designation “Historic Airport Road.” Implement the change 6 months from the date of approval by the Town Council or by Independence Day 2005.
Related Recommendations – Town Council’s Process Going Forward:
1. (Passed) The Town should support individuals impacted by renaming, possibly including money, technical support, time to adjust, publicity campaign, information meeting with US Postal Service. Look for funds/resources to help Airport Road residents/owners with transition (addresses, labels, web pages).
2. (Passed) Thank and commend the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Branch of the NAACP for introducing the issue and giving us the opportunity for these discussions.
3. (Passed) Issue a proclamation to the Town of Chapel Hill: We ask you to recognize that the Airport Road community is broader than ownership and includes commuters and others, many of whom are priced out of Chapel Hill. We ask you not to be narrow on seeing who is sacrificing in Chapel Hill.
Related Recommendations - Addition Additional Ways to Honor Dr. King and Chapel Hill’s Diverse History:
1. (Passed with unanimous support) In addition to renaming, create a room at the Library with a collection of materials honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. and Civil Rights in Chapel Hill.
2. (Passed with unanimous support) Support a museum exhibit about Airport Road that includes oral histories, publications, etc. that the Town Council oversees.
3. (Passed) Further honor Martin Luther King, Jr. with information signs saying Peace, Racial, And Economic Justice.
4. (Passed with weak support) Establish a branch of the Library in the African American community.
Related Recommendations. Opportunities for Ongoing Interracial Dialogue:
1. (Passed with unanimous strong support) Continue addressing racial and power issues in Chapel Hill by creating a racial justice commission/task force to coordinate activities such as:
· An annual weekend meeting similar to this forum for a committee of unlimited size to address and discuss race issues in Chapel Hill.
· A Town proclamation of .Racial Justice Week.
· An annual publication on the state of Black Chapel Hill that includes indicators of housing, jobs, education, political power, social issues, health status, etc.
· A seminar series.
· Public arts.
· Oral history.
· Annual Brown vs. Board of Education Forum.
2. (Passed with unanimous support) Advocate and voice support for the mission and work of the Orange County Human Rights and Relations Commission.
Recommendations and Reflections from the OpenSource Team:
1. Support opportunities for community-wide training on power, privilege, and oppression.
2. Balance the use of various forms of knowledge and expertise about racial and power relations.
3. Advance a “positive peace” by engaging diverse perspectives.
4. Combine the installation of new street signs with celebration and community building.
5. On a practical note, include the U.S. Postal Service in an information session for Airport Road residents and business owners.
Calvin Allen said that to answer the question, “was this process worth it”, you would have to ask the citizens who participated. But, he continued, from OpenSource’s perceptive as facilitators, there was an element of having people come to together and share their lived experiences, share their perspectives, and bringing comments and creativity from their neighbors and their community that made this process richer.
Mayor Foy noted that several citizens had signed up to speak, and thanked Mr. Allen and Ms. Fisher-Borne for their work with the Committee. He said he wanted to sincerely thank the Committee members who took time out of their lives to engage in this discussion, noting that their discussions had been thoughtful, honest and civil, which went a long way to diffusing a lot of the emotions. Even though there was not consensus, all voices were heard. He recognized the Committee members who were in attendance at tonight’s meeting:
Jesse Gibson Bruce Johnson
Bishop Gene Hatley Catherine Holland
May McLendon Ashley Osment
Brenda Brown Justin Coleman
Curtis Harper Joe Herzenberg
Creighton Irons Aiden Smith
Yonni Chapman
Mayor Foy added that he, Council Member Greene, and Mayor pro tem Wiggins had also participated with the Committee.
Catherine Holland expressed her displeasure that even though the renaming of Airport Road was a “done deal” from the very beginning in the Council’s view, a committee was formed only after a petition was submitted to them by opponents of the renaming. She said she was disappointed and discouraged at the actions of this Council who disregarded any voices of opposition, including those individuals and businesses most affected by the renaming. Ms. Holland said the Special Committee membership was “so stacked with pro-naming persons” that it was obvious from the first hour of the Committee meeting that those in opposition would make no headway.
Ms. Holland said opponents sat and listened to all voices, but they were consistently overridden with praise for Dr. King, what he meant, and how they needed a symbol to keep his name in the forefront. She said to those Committee members and to the Council, it appeared that renaming Airport Road was the only viable solution “no matter what,” without regard for the problems and cost for Airport Road residents and businesses, and also the expense to the Town.
Ms. Holland said she wanted to make clear that the three opponents on the Committee had no objection to honoring Dr. King, and agreed that it was appropriate. Their concern was for the way the process was carried out, with no regard for anyone who opposed the renaming of Airport Road. Regrettably, Ms. Holland continued, the Special Committee was turned into a race issue, not by the three of them, but by the other members of the Committee. She said she was told by a member of the NAACP that the feeling of power on this issue was “a good feeling.” Ms. Holland said she sincerely hoped this does not hurt racial relations in Chapel Hill. Renaming an old established road anywhere is an important change, she said, and before this change is made every other alternative should be considered, particularly a new road, a memorial road or a dedicated road so that mailing addresses would remain the same. Ms. Holland said with any of these alternatives the symbol would be just as strong and visible. She noted that every alternative suggested by the minority was summarily rejected in favor of the renaming of Airport Road.
Ms. Holland asked the Council what their reaction would have been had the petition requested the renaming of Franklin Street? She said that even though Airport Road was not as old as Franklin or Rosemary Streets, it was still an old and established part of Chapel Hill, and should remain so.
Bishop Gene Hatley thanked the Council for the opportunity to serve on the Special Committee, and OpenSource Leadership for a “tremendous” job. He noted that it had been implied that the Committee members where chosen based on their position on this issue, and that was not correct. Bishop Hatley stated that many of the members had their perceptions altered by the members who were in opposition to the renaming. That is directly reflected in the recommendation to add an additional sign saying “Historic Airport Road,” he said.
Bishop Hatley said he did not believe any new issues were identified during the process, but did believe that it forced them to evaluate why they take the positions on issues they take. He said it was his hope that this will not drive a wedge that may abort future discussion on race relations.
Dr. Peter Smith, whose practice is located on Airport Road, said he believed Airport Road is an historic road with its own history and is concerned about replacing that history in the manner that has been proposed. He asked the Council to imagine signs along Airport Road having Dr. King’s picture on them and messages from his teachings, allowing observers to benefit from those tributes without renaming the road.
Dr. Smith said that the expense he will face with the renaming will be countless thousands of dollars. He said the expense is not just in stationery, business cards, labels, and the like, but it is countless hours working with insurance companies, licensing boards, and a whole range of professional contacts to notify them of the address change, and believed the same expense will have to be borne by other businesses on Airport Road. He encouraged the honoring of Dr. King in a variety of ways, but asked the Town Council not to honor him by renaming Airport Road.
Eugene Farrar, First Vice President of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chapter of the NAACP, thanked the Town Council for the opportunity to continue to move forward and build relationships with all races in Chapel Hill.
Billy Madden, a resident of Ashley Forest Road, said he came to Chapel Hill from Detroit partly because racial tension is so much less here. But, he said, Airport Road is an historic road. Mr. Madden stated that if the petitioners had requested that the library be renamed for Dr. King, which is a place of prominence, he did not believe anyone would have objected. The library is a large and well-know library, with its own street, and it would be an appropriate action to take. Mr. Madden said he believed that none of this discussion would have been necessary had the library been considered. He suggested that the library be renamed for Dr. King, and that Library Drive be renamed as well. Mr. Madden said he hoped that Airport Road would remain Airport Road.
Garland King stated that the greatest symphony in the world is that humankind can interact together under decent dialogue and decent intensions for each other. He said that Chapel Hill is known all through the nation as a beacon of enlightenment of education. Mr. King briefly described life for African-Americans in years past. He asked the citizens of Chapel Hill to join the “decent thinking people of the world” and live up to the standard that Chapel Hill seems to enjoy. Mr. King said all citizens deserve to enjoy the great legacy of this America and a great city like Chapel Hill. Mr. King asked that all of us work together in harmony, and make our own symphony.
Bruce Johnson, a Special Committee member, said he believes the Committee could have done more to honor Dr. King. But, he does not understand why at first it was believed you had to be a resident of Chapel Hill to be a member, and it ended with members not having to be residents. Then, he continued, the due date for the applications was changed.
Mr. Johnson stated his belief that the Committee membership was “stacked” and by this action, opinions of the minority did not matter, although he believed the facilitators did an excellent job. He noted that of the emails received by the Town on this issue, 80% were not in favor of the name change, but were in favor of some other form of recognition.
As elected officials, Mr. Johnson said, the Council should be listening to the people who elected them. He urged the Council to consider some other form of recognition for Dr. King.
Andrew Silver said he was in favor of renaming Airport Road, but was astonished that people wanted to name yet another road after Dr. King. He said he was more in favor of it being named for an African-American who was more meaningful for Chapel Hill and its history, and suggested that Elizabeth Cotton should be considered.
Creighton Irons, a member of the Special Committee, said he believed renaming Airport Road for Dr. King was the “right way to go.” He said the reason they did not recommend renaming some other facility, such as the library, was because it “simply did not mean as much.” Mr. Irons said the fact that the Committee recommended that signs reading “Historic Airport Road” be included along with the new road signs was an indication that the Committee wanted the historic significance of Airport Road to remain.
Mr. Irons stated that a speaker tonight had posed the question regarding how the Council would have reacted had it been suggested that Franklin Street be renamed, noting that it gave him pause. He wondered how he would have felt, since Franklin Street holds even more significance to him that Airport Road. Mr. Irons said it would have made him “so proud” if Franklin Street had been the street to be renamed, because it would be “a huge statement” to make to the rest of the country and to the citizens of Chapel Hill.
Andrew Pearson noted he had happened upon the present Martin Luther King, Jr. Street about three years ago, and was “shocked” that a street could be so small and be named after such a great man. He said that when the proposal was made to rename Airport Road for Dr. King, he thought that would a huge step and maybe too big a step for this town. Mr. Pearson noted that after thinking about it, he realized that we make history and we choose the direction to go in, just as we choose the road we want to travel. He said he could not imagine the pride that will be experienced by the community as citizens travel the “road of freedom” down Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.
Mr. Pearson stated that as people travel down this road to buy groceries or visit the Town of Hillsborough, they will be traveling down the road of freedom to a new future that signifies that Chapel Hill is a community that strives for justice, for peace, for equality, and most of all for racial harmony and reconciliation. Mr. Pearson urged the Council to adopt the renaming resolution, so that his future would include traveling that “road of freedom.”
MAYOR PRO TEM WIGGINS MOVED RESOLUTION R-11, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER STROM.
Mayor pro tem Wiggins thanked the Mayor and the Council for engaging in this process, and noted it brought more order and more focus to the renaming issue. She thanked the over 60 citizens who participated, and congratulated the members of the Special Committee.
Mayor pro tem Wiggins said the work had just begun. If the Council adopted the resolution and the signs are changed, she stated, there are many other recommendations in this proposal and those recommendations will require that the Council demonstrate its commitment to what the NAACP asked us to do. Mayor pro tem Wiggins said that commitment would mean that they go beyond the naming and act on some of the other recommendations which will require money. She said she had learned long ago as an elected official that where you put your dollars and cents is where you put your values and what you believe in.
Mayor pro tem Wiggins said the easiest thing for the Council to do is to go forward with the name change, which would not be a big ticket item for the Town. She said it would carry a small cost, but adoption of the resolution would call for a sustained commitment to what Dr. King meant to all in the community, and not just African-Americans.
Mayor pro tem Wiggins said that she hoped that if the resolution is adopted and the recommendations are turned over to the Manager, and when he brings back implementation strategies that will have dollars and cents attached to them, that those citizens who felt strongly about this issue would come back and make sure that the Council does more than just the easiest thing. She said that the Council will need to commit ongoing resources to implementing the other recommendations.
Council Member Verkerk said when the proposal for renaming Airport Road was first made, she did not understand why it had to be Airport Road. She noted that now that she has read the report and all the other materials, as well as listened to the discussion, she does understand.
Council Member Verkerk said she was a critic of the original recommendation because she believed the process was flawed. She offered her apologies for that. Council Member Verkerk said that after two and one-half days talking to each other, that nothing but good could come from that. She stated she regretted that there would be members of the community that would not be happy with the name change, but she would support adoption of the resolution.
Council Member Verkerk added her thanks to the members of the Special Committee and others who had applied, as well as to the facilitators who had done “a great job.” She thanked the members of the Council who participated on the Committee, noting it was a difficult job but that many positive things had come out of it.
Council Member Harrison stated he was the only Council member who attended the meetings who was not a member of the Committee. He said that it was not a perfect committee and the membership was somewhat “skewed,” and although it did not achieve full racial harmony for all time it set us on the pace to go there, and that is what we really wanted the Committee to do.
Council Member Harrison said there was a method of consensus that was used, using a one-to-five scale with the middle of the scale meaning “I can live with it.” He noted one of tonight’s speakers had commented that he hoped everyone could live with it. Council Member Harrison said he tries on certain issues as a Council member to be a Council member and not an individual citizen, having done that in the past. He said his personal opinion is not as important as the opinions of the community. Council Member Harrison said he had spent the better part of the past month trying to look at what the community wanted, rather than what his personal opinion was. He said his personal view was that renaming the road was the right thing to do.
Council Member Harrison said he grew up in the 50’s and 60’s and had watched the Washington Monument speech by Dr. King on television. He noted that he, along with at least one other person present tonight, had been tear-gassed in the late 60’s while supporting African-American students at Duke.
Council Member Harrison said that for him, supporting the renaming was not the question, it was how the Town “could live with it” and survive it. He said he would like to single out Mayor pro tem Wiggins who had made this an action and a process that the Town could survive. Council Member Harrison said Mayor pro tem Wiggins was “a class act,” and he had learned much from her during this process. Paraphrasing comments Mayor pro tem Wiggins had made during a Committee meeting, Council Member Harrison said that this proposal made people feel as if they had a “loss of control,” drawing a parallel to school redistricting. He thanked Mayor pro tem Wiggins for reminding the Council that the work was just beginning, and thanked the authors of the minority report for making their opinions known.
Council Member Harrison said he believed the community could live with the renaming and thrive with it, and he would support the resolution.
Council Member Greene said it was a privilege to represent the Council on the Special Committee. She said some newspaper articles had been written about the meetings, but felt that none of them truly captured what really happened in the meetings. Council Member Greene said it was hard work, it was stressful, but it felt important, like they were getting at some important questions about race and power in Chapel Hill. She said it was important that those who live and work on Airport Road had voiced their concerns, and does believe that those concerns were addressed when they recommended a dedication and library exhibit.
Council Member Greene said she wanted to underscore the primary point in the report and that was that the majority members of the Committee felt that it was of significantly more value to rename the road than renaming the library or a monument or some other facility. She said she believed that Creighton Irons was correct, that it weaves its way into the community in ways that are tangible, and like it or not it becomes part of your daily experience.
Council Member Greene noted that the Civil Rights Movement took place in the streets, even though it was about access to buildings. She said that may be one reason why the national memorial to Dr. King has turned out to be a series of disconnected by very well-connected streets named after Dr. King. The significant thing about doing this in Chapel Hill, she added, is that it is a major thoroughfare, and there are not many of those.
Council Member Greene said it was symbolic, but she had learned over the two and one-half days of meetings that symbols were important. She said more work needed to be done on this thing we call a “positive peace” rather than a negative peace, and looked forward to the Council taking an active role in following through on the recommendations noted in the Committee’s report.
Council Member Kleinschmidt said he had been in support of the process from the beginning, when others had not been supportive. Paraphrasing Presidential candidate John Kerry’s opinion on the war, he said he had told the local press before the process started that he believed it was the wrong process at the wrong time, but now that we are there we need to win it. Council Member Kleinschmidt stated that he was thankful that Mayor Foy, Mayor pro tem Wiggins and Council Member Greene had won it, saying they had brought back a report that won that war. He said that he was pleased to be able to support that, as a Council member and as a citizen, which he sees as a unity, and as resident and property owner on Airport Road, soon to be Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.
Council Member Kleinschmidt said that tonight the Council had an opportunity to add a jewel to the monument to Dr. King, which is all the roads and streets and boulevards that have been named for Dr. King over the past 40 years. He said that when people ask him, why Airport Road - why not something more meaningful, his response is that he cannot think of anything more meaningful. Council Member Kleinschmidt said when you get off the bus, you walk down the road, when you listened to Dr. King’s speech at the Lincoln Memorial you walked down the road, and that’s where the fights for equality and justice occurred and that’s where they continue to occur today. He said he doesn’t think there is anything more appropriate than renaming the road.
Council Member Kleinschmidt said that tonight the Council had an opportunity to put a jewel in the monument to Dr. King that stretches across the country, and to show the country that we can do this the Chapel Hill way by taking one of the most prominent and special roads in our community and adding it to the monument to Dr. King and say, “this is our contribution.” Council Member Kleinschmidt said that as a Council member and a citizen, and as a resident and property owner on Airport Road, he was excited to be able to support adoption of the resolution.
Council Member Ward said that since the last meeting, he had read the book “The Free Man” by John Ehle, noting it was a “fantastic” book and wished everyone would read it. He said there are citizens present tonight who are mentioned in the book, as well as the mention of buildings and streets that would be familiar to anyone who has been here any length of time. Council Member Ward said he has lived here for 30 years, and it was an eye-opening experience to read the book.
Council Member Ward said the book chronicles the efforts to desegregate many of the businesses in Town in the early 1960’s and the words that John Ehle used did not paint a pretty picture for what many of us call the “Southern Part of Heaven.” While the picture is not pretty, he said, there are numerous stars that shined during that time and many of them are still with us today. Council Member Ward said he believed the decision this evening to rename Airport Road would be another star to shine in Chapel Hill.
Council Member Ward said the discussion of this issue that had engulfed the community over the last several months had also enriched his feelings for Chapel Hill. Not because we have come to agree on the same points, he stated, but because we gave it our best efforts to reach consensus, adding he believes that process lead to a greater understanding of one another, and that is just one more step on that journey we need to take.
Referring to a quote from John Ehle’s book, Council Member Ward said he wanted to read a quote from a letter written by Dr. King while imprisoned in Birmingham: “I guess it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say wait.” Council Member Ward said he asked the citizens of this community to wait on this decision by supporting the recommendations of the Special Committee, adding that he was unaware of what he was really asking of people who had felt the “stinging darts” of segregation. Continuing the quote, Council Member Ward read, “When you see them (the painful injustices of segregation), then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait.” He stated that one thing he had learned through this process was that the history that he has as a person and others of a different color have is vastly different. Council Member Ward said his awareness is now much greater.
Council Member Ward noted that he had voted to extend the process to create the Special Committee, with the hope that it would be a way to bring these opposing, emotionally-charged perspectives closer together. He thanked all those who had participated in the extended process, saying he believed it had improved the outcome, and thanked those in the community who had been asked to wait yet again for the outcome of the process. Council Member Ward said he looked forward to renaming Airport Road as Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.
Council Member Hill stated he was proud to have voted for the renaming the first time it was discussed, and was proud to be able to do so again tonight.
Council Member Strom thanked his fellow Council members for serving on the Committee and bringing a productive close to this discussion, and for laying the groundwork for a new chapter. He said he was privileged to serve on this Council and this would be the second time he had voted in favor of renaming Airport Road. Council Member Strom said this night would be one he would remember well, and thanked the citizens who participated on the Community for their time and dedication. He noted he wanted to particularly thank Bill Thorpe and the NAACP who really brought this issue to the forefront and before the Council, adding it has had an enriching impact on his service on the Council.
Council Member Strom said that the notion of driving up and down Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard would be a catalyst for people to really talk about important issues for generations to come.
Mayor Foy noted his support for the resolution, stating that one of the main rationales that people have heard is that this is part of a national monument. He said that is compelling because monuments don’t necessarily have to be statutes or other types of typical monuments. Mayor Foy said the towns and cities that have named roadways for Dr. King, when knitted together, really do create a national monument. When people ask what this had to do with Chapel Hill, Mayor Foy said he believed it reminded us of our history, and many of us have not heard the stories about the Civil Rights struggle in Chapel Hill and we need to hear them.
Mayor Foy said that one of the good things about this process was that they heard stories about desegregation, which he believed many people felt was a good thing. But, he stated, what really happened to the African-American community in desegregation was that those who had gained positions of authority and leadership in Black schools were moved into desegregated schools, and their positions were minimized. It was in effect, he said, a bad thing for African-Americans. He said this is the type of story that needs to be told, and we need to hear them.
Mayor Foy said he thought that this is part of what this road renaming can help us to accomplish. He said that renaming the road would make us talk about our history, and listen to these stories that maybe we don’t want to hear. Mayor Foy said that renaming the road would be a great benefit to the community, now and into the future.
THE MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION R-11 WAS ADOPTED UNANMIOUSLY (9-0).
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A REPORT AND RELATED RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER RENAMING AIRPORT ROAD, THANKING THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR ITS WORK, AND DIRECTING THE MANAGER TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS (2004-12-06/R-11)
WHEREAS, on June 14, 2004, the Council created the Special Committee to Consider Renaming Airport Road, with a charge to develop options and recommendations for the Council’s consideration; and
WHEREAS, the Special Committee was charged with making recommendations to the Council by its December 6th meeting;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council accepts the report of the Special Committee to Consider Renaming Airport Road, and thanks the Committee for its diligence and commitment in completing its charge. The Council also extends its thanks to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Branch of the NAACP for introducing the issue and presenting the opportunity for discussion of this and other related issues.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the Council accepts the following primary recommendation as contained in the Committee’s Report:
1. Change the name of Airport Road to “Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.” with a separate sign mounted underneath with the designation “Historic Airport Road.” Implement the change six (6) months from the date of approval by the Town Council, or no later than July 4, 2005.
That the Council also directs the Manager to prepare a report to the Council on potential implementation of the following additional recommendations of the Committee:
1. The Town should support individuals impacted by the renaming, possibly including money, technical support, time to adjust, publicity campaign, and an information meeting with the U.S. Postal Service. The Town should look for funds/resources to help Airport Road residents/owners with transition issues (addresses, labels, web pages).
2. In addition to renaming, create a room at the Library with a collection of materials honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. and Civil Rights in Chapel Hill.
3. Support a museum exhibit about Airport Road that includes oral histories, publications, etc. that the Town Council oversees.
4. Further honor Martin Luther King, Jr. with information signs saying “Peace, Racial, and Economic Justice.”
5. Establish a branch of the library in the African American community.
6. Continue to address racial and power issues in Chapel Hill by creating a racial justice commission/task force to coordinate activities such as:
· An annual weekend meeting similar to this forum for a committee of unlimited size to address and discuss race issues in Chapel Hill.
· A Town proclamation of “Racial Justice Week.”
· An annual publication on the state of Black Chapel Hill that includes indicators of housing, jobs, education, political power, social issues, health status, etc.
· A seminar series.
· Public Arts.
· Oral history.
· Annual Brown vs. Board of Education forum.
7. Advocate and voice support for the mission and work of the Orange County Human Rights and Relations Commission.
This the 6th day of December, 2004.
Mayor pro tem Wiggins noted that Dr. King was assassinated during the time that former Council Member Bill Thorpe was a member of the Council. She noted that Chapel Hill was the first town in the United States to celebrate Dr. King’s life by honoring him with a Town holiday, and that became a national movement. Mayor pro tem Wiggins noted that Mr. Thorpe was in the audience tonight.
Council Member Kleinschmidt noted that when this item was before the Council in the past there were two other resolutions, one that would proceed with renaming the current Martin Luther King Street, and the other that would change the address of Town Hall.
Mayor Foy suggested to the Manager that when this comes back in January, that the Manager include suggestions on how to change the name of the current Martin Luther King, Jr. Street, as well as changing the address of Town Hall to Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard. Mr. Horton agreed to do so.