The Mayor and Council pledged support for Rockville’s diversity and inclusivity, Monday night at their public meeting.
Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton followed the meeting’s Pledge of Allegiance with a statement on behalf of her colleagues. Rockville’s strength comes from its “tapestry of race, religion, creed, ethnicity, physical and mental abilities, sexual orientation and culture,” she said. “The strength that comes from diversity of education and thought.”
The Mayor and Council are committed to making Rockville a place where all people felt welcome, Newton said.
“We support and defend the rights of all individuals – to live their lives in peace and safety – with dignity and respect,” she said. “The City of Rockville is proud of our inclusiveness and we firmly believe that we are a better city — a stronger community — because of our differences.”
The Mayor and Council adopted a resolution at the end of the meeting to underscore their commitment of support for Rockville’s diverse communities. Thirty-four percent of the city’s population was born outside of the U.S., and a majority of students attending public schools in Montgomery County are members of racial and ethnic minority groups, the resolution stated. Rockville has diversity of religious faiths and sexual orientations, and is a place where people of all physical and cognitive abilities contribute meaningfully, the resolution said.
“Now, therefore the Mayor and Council of Rockville hereby recognize and celebrate our city’s vibrant diversity and call upon elected officials at all levels of government to recognize that our nation is stronger because of this diversity and call upon them to strive for policies and laws that promote equality and inclusion,” the resolution concluded.