Proclamation Declaring September 17th National Voter Registration Day 2024 WHEREAS, the right to vote is a pillar of our American democracy and essential for creating a more perfect union, and registering to vote is step one; and

WHEREAS, the movement to expand the franchise came through great sacrifice and courage of generations of civil rights leaders and activists, and have made strides to ensure that more Americans are able to take part in the democratic process; repeatedly amending the Constitution to expand voting access across our history; and landmark legislation including the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that have helped to make those constitutional promises real and meaningful for more and more of our people; and

WHEREAS, this work remains unfinished and today, the right to vote is being suppressed and subverted in many parts of the country by shameful attempts to restrict Americans’ access to the ballot and the rolling back of decades of voting rights progress. This assault, largely targeting Americans of color, college-age and newer voters, is an attack on our democracy, on our liberty, and on who we are as Americans; and, in the words of the late Congressman John Lewis, “Democracy is not a state; it is an act.” It is our shared responsibility to act to secure the basic promise of American democracy; and

WHEREAS, each year in the United States, millions of eligible voters find themselves unable to vote because of politically motivated suppression and subversion and inadvertent issues such as missing a registration deadline, forgetting to update their registration after a name change or moving, or simply because they aren’t sure how to register; and

WHEREAS, National Voter Registration Day was created in 2012 to help address such issues by serving as a nationwide nonpartisan rallying point to promote voter registration and help eligible voters across the country get #VoteReady to participate in our shared democracy. Since 2012, more than 5 million citizens have registered to vote on National Voter Registration Day, including a record-breaking 1.5 million in 2020 alone.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County proclaims September 17, 2024, as National Voter Registration Day and calls upon all eligible Americans to observe this day by reaffirming our commitment to our hard fought voting rights by checking our voter registration status, – ensuring our registration is accurate and up-to-date by visiting Vote.gov or local elections office – and to help your neighbors, family, and friends to do the same; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that when We, the People, show up and vote, democracy wins! Submitted by Renee Zeimer, District 2 Elected Member, Joy Pinsky, District 4 Assoc. Member Approved by the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, August 29, 2004

National Hispanic Heritage Month Proclamation September 15 – October 15, 2024

WHEREAS President George H. W. Bush declared September 15 through October 15 “National Hispanic Heritage Month” on September 14, 1989; and

WHEREAS Hispanics/Latino(x)s comprise 26.4 percent of Contra Costa County residents, 40 percent of Californians, therein becoming the largest racial or ethnic group in California, and 18 percent of U.S. residents and the second largest racial or ethnic group in the nation; and

WHEREAS Hispanic/Latino(x) Americans made an enduring impression on our history, leading hard-fought progress for our country and bravely committing themselves to defending our nation and its most treasured ideals at home and overseas with heroic determination and perseverance embedded into our nation’s character; and

WHEREAS Hispanics/Latino(x)s writers, artists, chefs, and musicians enrich our humanities, arts, gastronomy, and culture; innovative entrepreneurs drive our economy; pioneering scientists and engineers make discoveries that revolutionize our lives; and advocates lead sociopolitical change; and

WHEREAS labor leaders and civil rights activists César Chavez and Dolores Huerta created more just working conditions for many Latino(x)s and organizations such as Hijas del Campo, United Latino Voices, and Concilio Latino today give visibility to the needs of our community and to the many brave Latino(x) essential and frontline workers who kept our economy, food delivery, and health services operating during COVID-19, despite being the most impacted ethnic group in Contra Costa County; and

WHEREAS the ever-present participation of Democratic Hispanic/Latino(x) Americans in politics and our justice system help create a more equitable society for all, including the first U.S. Senator, Alex Padilla; Secretary of Health and Human Service, Javier Becerra; Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona; first Supreme Court Justice, Justice Sonia Sotomayor; U.S. Representative for California’s 33rd Congressional District and Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, Pete Aguilar: and State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond; and

WHEREAS Contra Costa County is home to many elected Hispanic/Latino(x) Democratic elected officials; and, within the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, we have several publicly elected Latino(x) members, as well as elected public officials and California Democratic Party (CDP) E-Board Members, all paving the way for greater minority and Hispanic/Latino(x) representation across Contra Costa County and California; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County hereby proclaims September 15 through October 15, 2024, as National Hispanic Heritage Month and commits itself to serving as a center for the collection and dissemination of information relating to and/or impacting the Latino community and to continuing the fight for fair wages, safe working conditions, good schools, a clean environment, access to health care, and equal treatment under the law for all; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County calls upon public officials, our Party leadership, and all Americans to observe this month by encouraging, elevating, and empowering Democratic Latino(x) leaders through engagement in the political process, community events, and internship/fellowship opportunities; by endorsing meaningful legislation and policies that directly impact all Latino(x)s; by amplifying the visibility and participation of Latino(x)s in state government and providing new role models through the advancement of qualified candidates across California; and by discovering exemplary Latino(x)s to fill vacant positions within the state judiciary and other elected offices.

Approved by the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, August 29, 2024

Originally authored by Marisol Rubio, Carolina Villaseca, and María Alegría. Reviewed by Carolina Villaseca in 2024.

Proclamation of April 2024 as Arab American Heritage Month 

WHEREAS, for over a century, Arab Americans have been making valuable contributions to virtually every aspect of American society, including medicine, law, business, technology, government, and culture; and 

WHEREAS, since migrating to the United States, men and women of Arab descent have shared their rich culture and traditions with neighbors and friends, while also setting fine examples of model citizens and public servants; and 

WHEREAS, Arab migrants to the United States brought with them their resilient family values, strong work ethic, dedication to education, and diversity in faith and creed, strengthening the fabric of our diverse nation; and 

WHEREAS, the history of Arab Americans in American life often remains neglected or defaced by misunderstanding, bigotry, and anti-Arab hate in the form of crimes and speech; and 

WHEREAS, issues currently affecting Arab Americans, such as civil rights abuses, harmful stereotyping, harassment, and bullying, are increasing significantly and must be combated in the forms of education and awareness, particularly in light of the horrible impact that the Israel-Hamas Conflict has on the Palestinian community; and 

WHEREAS, there is a need for public education, awareness, and policies that are culturally competent when describing, discussing, or addressing the impacts of being Arab American in all aspects of American society, including discourse and policy; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County celebrates the countless contributions that Arab Americans have made to American society and the State of California, recognizing and honoring the month of April 2024 to be Arab American Heritage Month.

Approved by the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County Executive Committee, March 7, 2024, subject to action by the General Membership on April 18, 2024

Proclamation of March 2024 as Women’s History Month

WHEREAS, American women of every race, culture, class, faith, and ethnic background, representing 50.8% of the United States population, have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our Nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways; and

 WHEREAS, American women have played and continue to play a crucial economic, cultural, and social role in every sphere of life in the Nation by constituting a significant portion of the paid and unpaid labor force working inside and outside of the home; and

WHEREAS, American women were particularly important in the establishment of early charitable, philanthropic, and cultural institutions in our Nation; and 

WHEREAS, American women’s contributions were instrumental in the perseverance of the Nation during the Second World War (WWII), more recent wars/conflicts, the race for space and many other crises; and

WHEREAS, American women scientists are revolutionizing the field of medicine globally with their groundbreaking advancements in mRNA vaccines and Nobel-Prize winning gene-editing therapies; and 

WHEREAS, American women of every race, culture, class, faith, and ethnic background served as early leaders in the forefront of every major progressive social change movement; and 

WHEREAS, American women have been leaders not only in securing their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement, the industrial labor movement, the civil rights movement, the peace movement, and other movements, all of which strive to create a more fair and just society for all; and 

WHEREAS, the many women-owned businesses and women entrepreneurs contribute in a major way to the health and success of our local communities, their economies, create jobs, and demonstrate effective leadership; and

WHEREAS, from local Special Districts to Sacramento to the White House and the Supreme Court, women are leading and making change in government; and

WHEREAS, Contra Costa Democrats celebrate the many women leaders who are elected or appointed throughout our county and nation, including our first woman Justice of the Supreme Court in 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson, our first woman Vice President in 2020, Kamala Harris and our first woman District Attorney in 2017, Diana Becton; along with the historic number of women who were elected in the most recent elections, we also recognize that women are still underrepresented in our legislatures, board rooms, and the judiciary; and

WHEREAS, the objectification of, violence against, and the exploitation of girls and women continues to be pervasive in the United States and across the world, while society continues to fail to educate young boys and men about boundaries and to hold them accountable; and

WHEREAS, lawmakers continue to infringe upon the rights of women to have autonomy over their bodies and access to the health care; and

WHEREAS, despite women’s contributions and proven talents and skills, the role of women is consistently overlooked and their qualifications and work undervalued and dismissed in literature, education, the study of American history, media coverage, in business, research and government; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County proudly recognizes the month of March 2023 as Women’s History Month and stands in solidarity and fully supports the contributions of women today and throughout history. 

Approved by the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, February 15, 2024