06-06-2019 Minutes CITY OF OCOEE
Minutes of the Human Relations Diversity Board
Regular Meeting Held June 6,2019
Recording device was not working during this meeting
I:CALL TO ORDER
HRDB meeting was called to order by Chair Dawkins at 6:19 p.m. in Room 109 of Ocoee City Hall located at 150 North
Lakeshore Drive,Ocoee, Florida.
A. Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Personal Reflection: Carr led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance to the
U.S.flag;followed by Chair Dawkins asking for moment of personal reflection.
B. Roll Call and Determination of Quorum: Clerk Mieras performed roll call and declared quorum (6) met.
In Attendance(8):
Chair Dawkins& Members: Calloway, Maxwell,Carr, Hart, Foster,Anderson-Robinson, & Daily.
Non-Voting Present:
Clerk Mieras, Mayor Johnson, &Commissioner Oliver.
Absent(2):
Member(s)Crown& Dorsey.
C. Review of Excused Absences: Member Crown is an excused absence.
D. Review Agenda for Tonight's Meeting: Chair Dawkins reviewed the agenda for tonight.
E. Review of Minutes: Minutes from the April 4th and May 2"d meeting were reviewed.
Motion made by Member Maxwell, seconded by Member Anderson-Robinson,and unanimously passed to
accept the April 4th and May 2"d Minutes with the written in changes.
II:BUSINESS FOR DISCUSSION
A. Comments from Citizens/Public: None.
B. Marker Language: Member Carr asked to clarify if the marker language would use African-American or Black, if
the allegedly in "Allegedly, he fled to the home of July Perry"was needed, and asked to add that 330 acres of
land was taken from African-Americans. Discussion ensued.
Motion made by Member Carr, seconded by Member Maxwell, and unanimously passed to accept the marker
language with the addition of"land," after"the mob burned 25 homes,".
ELECTION DAY MASSACRE
Mose Norman and other African-Americans attempted to vote in Ocoee on November 2, 1920;they
were turned away.After receiving advice from Judge Cheney, Norman returned to vote, but was
assaulted.Allegedly, he fled to the home of July Perry.A mob, seeking to capture Perry and Norman,
surrounded and attacked Perry's home. In the ensuing gunfire,two members of the mob were killed and
Perry suffered a severe wound. Perry was arrested and jailed.The next morning,a lynch mob took Perry
from his cell in Orlando, beat him severely, and hanged him in front of Judge Cheney's Orlando home.
Mobs of white men from surrounding cities joined local white citizens to torch the homes and
businesses of African-Americans. For two days,the mob burned 25 homes, land,two churches,and a
masonic lodge. Residents were killed as they fled the burning buildings or died in the fires.An
undetermined number of African-American residents were killed in the violence.Survivors fled, never to
return. It was over 60 years before an African-American again lived in Ocoee. Decades after the
massacre, people of all races come together in Ocoee to acknowledge this hateful history in hope of
creating a better future.
Chair Dawkins asked that the Board be informed when the marker application is submitted, and of the finished
marker delivery date.
C. Other Business: Member Foster inquired about the status of the proposal to rename of one of the parks after
July Perry.Chair Dawkins responded she needed to look into that, and would get back to her at a later date.
Member Foster asked how minority businesses are provided opportunities to work for the City,and what other
economic advantages the City offers to minority businesses. Mayor Johnson explained that the City operates
under an open bid process which prioritizes the lowest bid price.
D. Set Next Agenda: None
III:QUESTIONS/COMMENTS: None
IV:ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at 7:01 p.m.
AUTHENTICATION:
These are the official minutes of the Ocoee Human Relations Diversity Board, as accepted by the Board at a meeting
held on the date shown below. Any amendments to the minutes as originally prepared by the Secretary are indicated
above.
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Presi-ing Officer Date