Fiscal Note
No City appropriation required.
Title
Celebrating February 2026 as Black History Month in the City of Madison
Body
WHEREAS, to commemorate and celebrate the contributions to our nation made by people of African descent, American historian Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week nearly a century ago; and,
WHEREAS, Black History Month has evolved from celebration of contributions to recognition of ongoing struggles for freedom, justice, and the full humanity of Black people in America and across the African diaspora; and,
WHEREAS, the 2026 theme for Black History Month is "A Century of Black History Commemorations," recognizing the national commemorations of Black history occurring since 1925; and,
WHEREAS, Black communities in Madison and nationwide face renewed threats to safety, dignity, and belonging, including increased immigration enforcement targeting Black immigrants and asylum seekers, the criminalization of protest and mutual aid, attacks on Black history education, and persistent racial violence and police brutality; and,
WHEREAS, Black resistance has always included building sanctuary, protecting community members from state violence, and creating systems of care that honor Black life when government systems fail to do so; and,
WHEREAS, Madison's Black community continues this tradition of resistance through organizing against displacement, demanding accountability for racial disparities in health, housing, and policing, and building power to shape policies that affect Black lives; and,
WHEREAS, we recognize that Black liberation is inseparable from the liberation of all oppressed peoples, and that attacks on immigrant communities, Indigenous sovereignty, and other marginalized groups threaten the collective struggle for justice; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Madison acknowledges its responsibility to actively oppose policies and practices that harm Black residents, including cooperation with federal immigration enforc...
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