Berkeley to Raise Black Lives Matter Flag

MAYOR ARREGUÍN SPEARHEADS EFFORT TO FLY BLACK LIVES MATTER FLAG TO HONOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Mayor to Be Joined by City Council to Raise Flag Today as Nation Grapples with Systemic Racism 

BERKELEY – Today, Wednesday February 10th at 12PM, Mayor Jesse Arreguín will be joined by the City Manager, Councilmembers Terry Taplin and Ben Bartlett, and African American community leaders at MLK Jr Civic Center Park as the City of Berkeley raises the Black Lives Matter flag in honor of Black History Month. Mayor Arreguín introduced the resolution earlier this week which was supported unanimously by the Berkeley City Council.

“Black History Month affords us an opportunity to both reflect on our history and identify ways we can ensure a better and more equal future," said Mayor Jesse Arreguín. "From the death of George Floyd to the inequity we continue to see in Covid-19 infection and vaccination rates, this community is acutely aware of America's legacy of systemic racism and we will do our part to build a more just future through awareness and substantive action.

"By raising the Black Lives Matter flag the City of Berkeley joins organizers and activists in solidarity to affirm the fact that, indeed, Black lives do matter. It is my hope that we use Black History month as an opportunity to both celebrate the achievements of the past, and continue laying the groundwork for the achievements that are yet to come."

Since the protests that dominated the summer months, the City of Berkeley has launched a comprehensive community-driven campaign to reimagine public safety, with a task force being activated in partnership with the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform. This task force will develop policies proposed by the Council to keep the community safe while addressing racial biases. This includes developing BerkDOT, a new division that will provide civilian traffic enforcement, piloting a Specialized Care Unit to have trained crisis-response workers respond to 911 calls that the operator evaluated as non-criminal and that posed no imminent threat to the safety of first responders, such as calls regarding mental health. 

In the November General Election, Berkeley voters approved Measure II, which replaces the current Police Review Commission with a new Police Accountability Board, which among other objectives will provide community participation in setting and reviewing Police Department policies, practices, and procedures, and to provide a means for prompt, impartial and fair investigation of complaints brought by members of the public against sworn employees of the Berkeley Police Department.

Members of the media wishing to attend the flag raising ceremony may do so by going to the flag poll at MLK Jr Civic Center Park at 2151 MLK Jr Way, across the street from Old City Hall.