HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-06-04 Proclamation Item Number: 2.a.
CITY OF IOWA CITY
COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
June 4, 2024
Gun Violence Awareness Day
Attachments: Gun Violence Awareness Day proclamation
,� City of Iowa City i
-*
PROCLAMATION
1 Whereas, every day, more than 120 Americans are killed by gun violence and more than 200
fJ% are shot and wounded, with an average of more than 48,000 gun homicides every year making
Americans 26 times more likely to die by gun homicide than people in other high-income
countries; and
Whereas, Iowa has 332 gun deaths every year, with a rate of 10.3 deaths per 100,000 people, a
crisis that costs the state $4.2 billion each year, of which $53 million is paid by taxpayers. Iowa
has the 42nd highest rate of gun deaths in the US; and
Whereas, support for the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding residents goes hand-in-
hand with keeping guns away from people with dangerous histories; and
Whereas, elected officials and law enforcement officers - in partnership with local violence
intervention activists and resources - know their communities best, are the most familiar with
local criminal activity and how to address it, and are best positioned to understand how to keep
their community safe; and
Whereas, gun violence prevention is more important than ever as we see an increase in
firearm homicides and nonfatal shootings across the country, increased calls to suicide and
domestic violence hotlines; and
Whereas, in January 2013, Hadiya Pendleton was tragically shot and killed at age 15 while at
a park with friends. On June 7, 2024, her 27th birthday, people across the United States will
recognize National Gun Violence Awareness Day and wear orange in tribute to Hadiya and
other victims of gun violence as well as survivors and loved ones of those victims. Hadiya's
friends, who asked their classmates to commemorate her life by wearing orange, this color was
chosen because hunters wear orange to announce themselves to other hunters when out in the
woods, and orange is a color that symbolizes the value of human life; and
Whereas, we renew our commitment to reduce gun violence and pledge to do all we can to
keep firearms out of the wrong hands and encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our
families and communities safe.
Now, therefore, I, Bruce Teague, Mayor of Iowa City, do hereby proclaim June 7, 2024 to be
Gun Violence Awareness Day
in Iowa City, Iowa. We encourage everyone to honor and remember all victims and survivors of
gun violence, to support their local communities' efforts to prevent the tragic effects of gun
violence and declare that we as a country must do more to end this public health crisis.
11
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Item Number: 2.b.
CITY OF IOWA CITY
COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
June 4, 2024
Pride Month
Attachments: Pride Month proclamation
City of Iowa City
PROCLAMATION
1
1 Whereas, LGBTQ+ communities across the nation annually celebrate pride in their culture
i and community in the month of June; and
Whereas, the annual celebration of Pride began as a collective protest for the rights of
LGBTQ+ individuals and communities;and
Whereas, the national tradition of celebrating Pride in June is a tribute to the Stonewall Riots
of June, 1969 in New York City, which are remembered as the launch of the modern LGBTQ+
rights movement; and
Whereas, transgender persons of color, including Marsha P. Johnson, Silvia Rivera and
Storme DeLarverie, were primary leaders in the Stonewall expression of just treatment for
LGBTQ+people, and gave their work and lives to the cause; and
Whereas, the City of Iowa City recognizes the many LGBTQ+ lives that continue to be lost
each year in pursuit of living out their authentic identities, in particular, transgender persons of
color; and
Whereas,the City of Iowa City welcomes and accepts persons of diverse sexual orientations,
gender identities, and gender expressions, and is proud to celebrate the contributions and culture
of all residents; and
Whereas, each year, Iowa City Pride brings together thousands of LGBT+persons from
across Iowa and beyond to celebrate their shared identities and experiences; and
Whereas, Iowa City Pride is celebrating its 54th Annual Pride Anniversary, and the 55th
Anniversary of Stonewall, this June; and
Whereas, Iowa City Pride will host its annual Iowa City Pride on June 15th in downtown
Iowa City and I encourage all to attend this celebratory event which includes a parade.
Now, therefore,I, Bruce Teague,Mayor of Iowa City, Iowa, do hereby proclaim the
month of June 2024 to be
LGBTQ+ Pride Month
in Iowa City, and encourage all to reflect on the ongoing struggle for equality members of
the LGBTQ+ community face and celebrate the contributions that enhance our city.
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ell AfQ4'�t')� this 4th day of June 2024.
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