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Date: 5/31/2023
HOLYOKE — The city of Holyoke celebrated the life and work of Malcolm X on May 19, what would’ve been the civil rights leader’s 98th birthday, with a proclamation committing the city to honoring the man and his legacy.
City leaders and residents joined in the mayor’s office for the proclamation and celebration of the life and work of Malcolm X. Garcia read a proclamation declaring May 19 “Malcom X Day in Holyoke.” Garcia said every day he hopes he and colleagues around the city can continue on the important work done by Malcolm X.
“Malcolm X will be remembered for his contributions to society by underscoring the value of truly free populace and by demonstrating the great lengths to which human beings will go to secure their freedom. And whereas Holyoke’s historically underserved Black community deserves recognition and representation for their efforts and determination to engage in leadership and community building,”
Garcia read from the proclamation.
Malcolm X was an American Muslim minister and human rights activist prominent during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, advocating for the rights and empowerment of Black American and Muslim American communities.
Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965 and has remained a highly regarded figure within Black and Muslim American communities for his pursuit of racial justice.
“Be it proclaimed that I Joshua A. Garcia, mayor, the city of Holyoke, Massachusetts, do hereby declare May 19 Malcolm X Day, a day when we inspire not just the black youth of Holyoke, but all residents and strive for excellence. We are to honor this day out of respect for Holyoke’s Black population.”
Ward 4 Councilor Kocayne Givner and Minister Tyrone Bowie Junior worked together in making the proclamation out of the mayor’s office a reality. Givner called the opportunity to celebrate Malcolm X and recognize the Black community in Holyoke special.
“This proclamation was cowritten with Tyrone Bowie, in an effort to recognize Black Holyoke through honoring this historic Civil Rights Movement figure,” Givner said. “As the Ward 4 Councilor and the sole Black female on the City Council, its been my honor to co-write this and move this proclamation forward for the signing today.”
Bowie expressed gratitude for the mayor and those involved making the proclamation a reality. He also thanked those closest to him in his life for helping him become the man he is today.
“I wanted to take the time to thank the individuals in this room who have all came together to make sure that we have this day of recognition for the Black communities that are in Holyoke, and that we can start enjoying and celebrating each other’s different cultures that are within the Black culture and come together and understand that our community is very diverse and that everybody needs the same recognition. I’m glad that we’re building a pathway to achieving that,” Bowie said.