Juneteenth is the oldest commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.  June 19th 1865 marked the day the last enslaved people in the United States were informed of their freedom.  Yet, as of June 19th 2020, descendants of formerly enslaved people have not experienced the fullness of their freedom in the nation whose wealth they helped to build. Likewise, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has not acknowledged the ongoing contributions of its employees of African descent to the successful daily operation of the school system. During this tumultuous time of a national health pandemic as well as racial and social unrest, we  have supported the efforts of the school system to continue the education of our more than 165,000 students. Now we call upon our school system to take action to move against discrimination, injustice and hardship. We call upon our school district to act upon our behalf.  As contributors and collaborators for the daily operational excellence of the district, we seek action for pervasive inequities in our system and its impact on the staff, students and community MCPS serves.  

1. There is a severe lack of acknowledgment by MCPS of the history, trauma and "Cel-Liberation" that are meaningful to Black/African American community of staff,  students and school community.
2. There is an unreasonable & insensitive productivity demand placed on MCPS employees during this health pandemic that is impacting everyone, compounded by the pandemic of racism that has a profound impact on Black/African American MCPS staff, students and school community.

We are petitioning that MCPS acknowledge our contributions and time, especially during a pandemic of racism and global health crisis by providing:

• A Week of Reset and Rest: June 29th - July 3rd
• Observation of Juneteenth as a Holiday from Work (just as Fourth of July)

Join us in solidarity and support of the African American community, so that the system notices our silence and values our presence and lives by signing our petition.