Published February 10 2016
Mayor John Stokes and city leaders invited the community to take personal steps to eliminate racism Wednesday at City Hall.
The goal of the event (video) was to unite Eastside communities in an expression of solidarity following a racist incident that recently occurred at the Rags to Riches consignment shop in Redmond.
"As the mayor of Bellevue, a longtime resident and member of the community, I am committed to standing up against racism whenever and however it exposes itself -- ensuring Bellevue is a welcoming and inclusive city for all," said Mayor Stokes.
The mayor wrote his commitment on a piece of fabric and attached it to a peace arch that will travel between Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Renton and Sammamish, as well as Cascadia College in Bothell and Lake Washington Vocational Technical Institute in Kirkland.
The peace arch, an interactive exhibition, invites individuals to join and enlarge the community's rejection of racism by writing specific steps they will take on pieces of colored fabric and physically connecting their commitment to others on an archway display.
In coordination with the Eastside Race and Leadership Coalition, Mayor Stokes and other community leaders are continuing the regional conversation about race, equity and access. The Eastside Race and Leadership Coalition empowers leaders to eliminate racism and increase equity in the community.
In December 2014, the City Council approved the Bellevue Diversity Advantage Plan, a framework that supports and champions diversity, equity, accessibility, opportunity and inclusion citywide. Implementation of the plan is underway.