BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Bellingham City Council approved a resolution affirming that racism is a public health crisis in our community at a meeting on Monday, September 27th.
It cites racist incidents in Bellingham and Whatcom County going back generations and attitudes that persist through policies today.
Councilmember Dan Hammil said it’s not about individuals.
“This is not about people’s personal feelings about how they treat others. This is about systemic racism,” says Hammil. “If you need proof that we still have much work to do, look no further than the economic stability for local indigenous community members, or intake into our foster care system, or the jail.”
The resolution spells out actions the city must take to address systemic racism and reach a more equitable community by 2032.
Actions include establishing a Whatcom Racial Equity Commission, diversity and systemic racism training for city staff and elected officials, elevation of anti-racist policies and ensuring equity in city hiring practices.
You can read the full resolution here.
The Whatcom County Council adopted a similar resolution last November.