ORDER-2023-67 : I respectfully request the Honorable City Council join me in recognizing Wednesday, March 1, 2023, as White Ribbon Day in Melrose, by issuing the attached “Proclamation of March 1, 2023, as White Ribbon Day”.

Transcript (~6 min @ 5:48)

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▶ 5:42 Speaker 2: order 2023-67 Request that the honorable city council recognize Wednesday, March 1st, 2023 as white ribbon day in Melrose by issuing the attached proclamation of March 1st, 2023 as white ribbon day.

▶ 5:56 Speaker 3: Council Echols Mr. President motion

▶ 5:59 Speaker 2: for media consideration at this time.

▶ 6:00 Speaker 3: second

▶ 6:03 Shawn M. MacMaster: Is there an objection to a media consideration being sought by Consular Eccles? Okay, there's no objection Mr. May. Would you please come forward?

▶ 6:18 Shawn M. MacMaster: And by unanimous consent I will seek to suspend the rules Mr. Mayor the restroom

▶ 6:24 Paul Brodeur: is yours. Thank you, Mr. President members of the council. I want to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to address you this evening and for your consideration and your joint sponsorship of the following resolution. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge president Grigoraitis as well. She could not be here this evening as you know in her day job. She works actively every day at the mass office of Victim Assistance to help help folks that are victims of crime. Obviously. This is a I know very close to her heart both professionally and personally so with that I am going to read the proclamation then turn it over to Jugarino to say a few words as well as the current president of the Melrose alliance against violence. Whereas our community the city of Melrose is deeply concerned about the public health and public safety issues of violence against women and all gender-based violence, including sexual assault rape domestic violence stalking and sexual harassment and whereas the many cultures represented in our community of Melrose are all affected including heterosexual gay bisexual and transgender individuals communities of color immigrants youth in aged in the infirmed and the differently abled and whereas the white ribbon day campaign believes that the majority of men wish to make a positive contribution towards ending the violence ending this violence and that by reimagining manhood we can break down the rigid gender roles and power dynamics that contribute to and Foster gender-based violence. And whereas the city of Melrose along with many other municipalities across our Commonwealth is committed to taking tangible steps to raise awareness support survivors and hold offenders accountable and promote safety equity and nonviolence in our community. And whereas the city of Melrose recognizes the important work of men for mave the men from a v initiative as well as the work of the most Police Department known as public schools and other partnering agencies. And whereas the white ribbon day pledge States as follows. I pledge never to commit excuse or stay silent about men's violence against women from this day forward. I promised to be part of the solution to ending all gender-based violence. Therefore I Paul Broder the city of Melrose, Massachusetts do hereby declare with the support of this city council the first day of March, 20 20 23 to be white ribbon day in the city of Melrose and that we will be holding a ceremony and white ribbon Day event flag raising that will be held on March 1st at 1 pm in front of City Hall. This is a program across the Commonwealth and really Across the Nation and internationally, there's been around for quite some time. I first learned about it. During my time at the executive office for Elder Affairs again. I very much appreciate the cities and the communities continuing support of this initiative with that. I'm going to turn it over to Joe for a few words again. Thank him and made for their leadership.

▶ 9:48 Speaker 4: Thank you. Mayor Broda. Thank you city council for having us here. White ribbon day movement began in Canada in 1991 following a massacre a female student at a university in Montreal small group of men got together and look for a way for men to oppose violence against women. In 2018 as part of being on the May board. We had launched Med for mave our vision is a community where men and boys are accountable and empowered with the knowledge and tools. to engage transforming our culture to prevent male violence So I invite you all in the community on for our sixth annual white ribbon day on Wednesday, March 1st one o'clock just outside here at the front of City Hall. We call upon all men of all ages to stand up participate in the process of ending violence against women. This is important because men unfortunately caused the majority of violence against others and themselves. We believe that every male Has the potential to become an emotional healthy respectful and nonviolent person by Shifting the culture in which they live and grow. The ceremony will begin with mayor broader delivering a proclamation. Followed by remarks by some Community leaders and a pledge of nonviolence led by merus high school students ceremony will conclude. With the drumming from The Marvelous High School band members while white ribbon day flag is raised by our city council of Jack Echols. So I invite you all to come out and we should all be proud of the Morrow's high school students of their involvement in this community organization. Thank you.

▶ 11:55 Shawn M. MacMaster: Did we want to do a emotional recess to take a photo? Motion recess Spruce lotion to recess made by Consular Eccles second seconded by councilor Stewart all in favor. Aye. brief recess