CER 23-0068 — Caribbean-American Heritage Month Ceremonial Recognition Resolution of 2019

DENROLLED ORIGINAL A KCEREMONIAL ERESOLUTION Councilmember23-68 BrandonIN T.THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA May 7, 2019 To recognize Caribbean-American Heritage Month and the Caribbean-American community as a valued and celebrated cultural community in the District of Columbia, and to declare the month of June as Caribbean-American Heritage Month in the District of Columbia.

ToddWHEREAS, A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION C O U N C I L OF THE DISTRICT OF C O L U M B I A To recognize Caribbean-American Heritage Month and the Caribbean-American community as a valued and celebrated cultural community in the District of Columbia,Columbia andis home to declarethousands theof monthpeople of JuneCaribbean asdescent; Caribbean-American Heritage Month in the Districtof Columbia.

CaribbeanWHEREAS, descent;istrictthe first celebration of ColumbiaCaribbean-American ismonth homewas toconceived thousandsby residents of peoplethe Ward 4 of WHEREAS,theistclbrtinofCaribbean-Americanmontoneivdbythe rsiensofteWard4District ftheDsrctofColumbiainy,DoreenThompsons.,nof June96;Columbia, mainly, Doreen Thompson, Esq., in June 1996;

WHEREAS,inWHEREAS, in 2001, Mayor Anthony Williams first proclaimed June as Caribbean-AmericanCaribbean- American Heritage Month in the District ofColumbia;of Columbia;

WHEREAS, in June 2005, the official campaign to nationally recognize the contributions of Caribbean people was jumpstarted when House of Representatives unanimously adopteon.adopted H.

e.Con.

1,sponsoredRes. by Congresswoman Be,bara L recognizingigifcaceofCaribbean peopleerdescendantntheitoy and cultureofthe United States;

HEREAS,71, clmiatngatw-yar,bprtsanad0icmealefrt;1sponsored iilrlypasseteSeat,by WHEREAS,PresenGeorgW.Congresswoman Barbara Lee, recognizing the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States;

BusissuethfirPresidentproclamationWHEREAS, declarJuneaCaribban-AmeriHeritaMonthonJun5,2006;on February 14, 2006, H.

WHEREAS,Con. Ward 4 has been the historical base for the Caribbean community, and continues to have the largest number of persons of Caribbean heritage in the bsness,aselasamajorchurfworshiorheCaribbeancommunity;rican restaurants and food WHEREAS, Caribbean Americans pctve le n he vl ihs movementanterscalandltialase,andhavecontinocntibteothe DsrctfColumbiaaneUnitedae;,sprtsandceneand ehnloyinte WHEREAS, June of 2019 is the 18th Anniversary of celebrating Caribbean- American Heritage Month in the District ofColumbia;

andRes. WHEREAS,arbban-meicnHertgeMonthsanpprtniytohonorand clbrtehehsor,clur,andesnialoeofCribeanAmericantheitict ofColumbiaacossheUitdSae.

RESOLVED,71 BYsimilarly Tpassed H E C O U N C I L OF T H E DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Caribbean-AmericanSenate, Heritageculminating Montha Ceremonialtwo-year, Recognitionbipartisan Resolutionand of2019”.bicameral effort;

acomlihmntsofteCaibbanAmricncommunitynteDititofColumbiaWHEREAS, andPresident theGeorge UnitedW. States of America, recognizes District residents of Caribbean heritage on the occasion of Caribbean-American Heritage Month, and declares June 2019 as “Caribbean-American Heritage Month” in the District of Columbia.

Bush issued the first Presidential proclamation declaring June as Caribbean-American Heritage Month on June 5, 2006;

ENROLLED ORIGINAL WHEREAS, Ward 4 has been the historical base for the Caribbean community, and continues to have the largest number of persons of Caribbean heritage in the District of Columbia, and includes many Caribbean American restaurants and food businesses, as well as a major church of worship for the Caribbean community;

WHEREAS, Caribbean Americans played an active role in the civil rights movement and other social and political causes, and have continued to contribute to the government, military, arts, business, music, sports and science and technology in the District of Columbia and the United States;

WHEREAS, June of 2019 is the 18th Anniversary of celebrating Caribbean-American Heritage Month in the District of Columbia;

and WHEREAS, Caribbean-American Heritage Month is an opportunity to honor and celebrate the history, culture, and essential role of Caribbean Americans in the District of Columbia and across the United States.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Caribbean-American Heritage Month Ceremonial Recognition Resolution of 2019”.

2.

The Council recognizes the outstanding contributions and valued accomplishments of the Caribbean-American community in the District of Columbia and the United States of America, recognizes District residents of Caribbean heritage on the occasion of Caribbean-American Heritage Month, and declares June 2019 as “Caribbean-American Heritage Month” in the District of Columbia.

Sec.

This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District ofColumbiaof Columbia Register.