Dated: November 14, 2022
RECOGNITION OF NOVEMBER 14 AS RUBY BRIDGES DAY
WHEREAS, Ruby Bridges is an icon of the American civil rights movement, who at the age of six years old in 1960, became the youngest member to integrate public schools in the American South; and
WHEREAS, segregation continued to exist in various states despite the Supreme Court of the United States’ 1954 ruling in Brown v. Board of Education barring any state laws allowing racial segregation in public schools; and WHEREAS, Ruby Bridges was the lone student of her group of black students to integrate William Frantz Elementary School in the City of New Orleans on November 14, 1960, being escorted by four federal agents while bravely walking amongst protesters full of harsh criticism; and
WHEREAS, Ruby Bridges demonstrated courage and became an icon for equality and desegregation in the early 1960s; and
WHEREAS, Ruby Bridges has asserted that “Racism is a grown-up disease and we must stop using our children to spread it”; and
WHEREAS, Ruby Bridges is a role model to our youth, particularly young girls, and her courageous act demonstrates the immense potential our young people have to become leaders; and
WHEREAS, as the first black child to desegregate her New Orleans elementary school in 1960, Ruby has inspired generations of Americans of all ages to stand up for civil rights; and
WHEREAS, in 2021, the California State Senate proclaimed November 14 as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day to honor the civil rights icon, thanks to the efforts of fifth-graders at Martin Elementary School in South San Francisco.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of South San Francisco honors the power of children and encourages them to continue to do extraordinary things.
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Mark Nagales, Mayor
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Buenaflor Nicolas, Vice Mayor
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Mark Addiego, Councilmember
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James Coleman, Councilmember
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Eddie Flores, Councilmember