Title
Resolution Regarding Consistency of Corporate Expression of Values and Corporate Action
Body
Whereas, The mission of the HRC is tied to Ann Arbor's Non-Discrimination Ordinance which states that no individual be denied equal protection of the laws; nor shall any individual be denied the enjoyment of his or her civil or political rights;
Whereas, In May 2021, the Ann Arbor City Council passed a resolution establishing Juneteenth as a recognized and commemorated annual holiday in part to continue celebrating the end of institutional slavery in America but also highlight the centuries long and incomplete struggle to redeem the American creed of equality for all;
Whereas, The resolution further acknowledged the central and shameful role of slavery and government-structured racism in our history, and the moral imperative that we do all we can, resolved and united, to counter slavery's enduring legacy of race-based discrimination and institutional racism;
Whereas, In August 2021, the City of Ann Arbor announced an Equitable Engagement Steering Committee and charged the committee to help the City function in a more inclusive manner and to uncover pathways to bring greater diversity of voices to the public processes;
Whereas, The voter suppression bills, passed by the Michigan state legislature in 2021 and subsequently vetoed by Governor Whitmer, have now evolved into a signature drive called Secure MI Vote that could soon empower the legislature to pass the same measures without the ability of the Governor to veto;
Whereas, The so-called Secure MI Vote initiative, submitted more than 500,000 signatures on Friday, July 29, 2022 to empower the state legislature to pass voter suppression over the Governor's veto;
Whereas, The City Council shares Governor Whitmer's concern that the effect of these initiatives and bills, if implemented, would be to improperly depress the vote in various communities, i.e., communities of color, in p...
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