WHEREAS, On Wednesday, April 29, 1992, four Los Angeles police officers were acquitted of the brutal beating of Black motorist, Rodney King, which started widespread rioting in Los Angeles and other outbreaks of violence in other major inner cities in the United States and the world; and

WHEREAS, The tragic events of the Los Angeles riots resulted in 2,300 injuries, 17,000 arrests, over $750 million in property damages, and as many as 10,000 businesses burned, damaged, or destroyed; and

WHEREAS, There were 58 deaths reported due to the riots; and

WHEREAS, A number of the families of the victims who were killed have formed a coalition requesting a day of peace; and

WHEREAS, This coalition is nonracial, nondenominational, and nonpolitical; and

WHEREAS, The coalition believes that the “Us Versus Them” politics does not bring about racial, religious, or economic harmony and that “violence only begets violence”; and

WHEREAS, This proclamation is to promote a “We the People” philosophy and that “Peace will Beget Peace”; and

WHEREAS, June 21, 1992, is Father’s Day, which has been set aside as a day of family togetherness and love; and

WHEREAS, The entire nation was affected by the events in Los Angeles, and our nation needs a day of nonviolence, brotherhood of mankind, and of healing; now, therefore, be it