| Belleville’s First Annual Pride Street Fair |
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“It’s Time”
Transcript of Mayor Mark Eckert’s speech:When I was asked about holding an event in this neighborhood right here on second street, on the first block of North Second, I must tell you that the owners of the Club Escapade are probably one of the few tavern owners and bar owners that I’ve never had in my office for any reason because we’ve never had any problems there. It didn’t take much thinking or much decision, as to would we allow such a street event. It went without hesitation. You know, in this great country we live in, people have the freedom to express themselves, to communicate to others, to have beliefs, and hold their values as long as they are done in a way that is not negatively impacted on others and that is what we have here today. Janet and I, when we talked, and I know this group and many of you have met with some of our other groups. I can remember about 15 years ago attending a meeting and several people said, “Why are you going to that meeting?” That was the Racial Harmony Group here in Belleville. In the 1990’s people sometimes said, “What’s all that about?” Belleville is a better community today because we’ve become much more diverse, because we’ve become much more open in our thinking and acceptance. Belleville is 194 years, six years away from our 200th anniversary. My good friends Mark Kern, Tom Holbrook and Alderman Dorothy Meyer and HRC members are here. Under Mark Kern’s leadership, we were the first community in the entire region to have a Human Relations Committee and possibly still the only one. I think it’s so important because they have worked so hard, along with Racial Harmony, educating people in our whole region about differences and I applaud Lynn Clapp, Mary McCue and Rose for all your efforts of educating on the rights and responsibilities and understanding of all people. As I heard them speak before I got up here, mentioning a number of churches that are involved today. And you know it’s no secret that Belleville’s great heritage—the two major things that in my opinion really make Belleville great today—and that is the long history of outstanding schools and our long history of our outstanding churches. It is churches, again today, who are here, partnering and helping people express themselves and to be able to communicate. So my wish for you tonight is that all of you have a very fun and very complete evening, and that you’re very satisfied with the outcome of your event, that you make new friends, that you feel more comfortable in Belleville—this community with this beautiful new streetscape and so many exciting things going on in this community as we speak. It’s a great time to be in Belleville and it’s a great time to celebrate in this town. On behalf of the City Council and the entire city, we welcome you.” |