Good evening, everyone.

I would like to open our announcement period.

Today is Tuesday, June the 16th.

I would like to open by acknowledging that this meeting is being held on the unceded stolen land of the Cherokee Shiny and Yuchi people, and to remind everyone that no one is illegal on stolen land built by stolen labor.

Before we get started, I would like to wish everyone a happy Juneteenth.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19th, 1865, the day when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally learned that they were free.

This historic announcement arrived two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation on January 1st, 1863.

Because Texas was the most remote Confederate state, the proclamation was entirely unenforceable until Union military forces arrived to take control, and this order immediately affected more than 250,000 enslaved people in Texas.

So this is something that we celebrate each year, and I would just love to wish everyone a happy Juneteenth holiday.

I hope you all enjoy your celebrations and festivities.

And we have one unrear presentation today, RS 2026, 1996, Councilmember Quante Toon's a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Frankie May Keeling Henry, civil rights activist, freedom writer, educator, and beloved Nashville.

And with that, Councilmember Toombs, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam Pro Tim.

Uh, this evening we have the distinct honor of reading this resolution honoring the life of Frankie Mae Keeling Henry, who is one of our esteemed uh freedom fighters who uh sacrificed uh her safety and devoted her life to helping her community, and we're we all owe her a debt of gratitude uh for the work she did for us.

Uh, we are joined this evening by her family, uh her son Lamont Henry, as well as her daughter-in-law uh Claudia Henry, as well as their uh daughter and uh grandson.

Um, before we read the resolution, I do want to recognize uh Councilwoman Zofat Swara, who always shares such uh heartwarming stories about Ms.

Frankie, and so I want to give her an opportunity to speak before we start reading the resolution.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Jones, for this resolution, and thanks for the opportunity to once again uh express my gratitude for the life and legacy of Miss Frankie.

As she's uh dearly known.

Uh, in addition to being a civil rights icon, she was a pillar in the community, uh, does a whole lot of things.

Uh as a teacher, as a community member, as a delta, uh, she's one of the people that you just have to know her to love her.

Uh very fashionably dressed.

Uh, uh, always on point, uh uh, and a community person.

You just have to be in our presence.

It was an honor for me to get to know Ms.

Frankie for everything that she did for our community.

Uh, we'll read a little bit of the proclamation, but every opportunity that I get uh to place uh homage to these folks for what they did.

I never say no.

So uh thank you, Councilmember uh Tooms, and then uh my big brother uh uh for letting us have your moment for your family sacrifice and for them, Miss Frankie did.

Thank you.

All right, a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Frankie May Keelan Henry, civil rights activist, freedom rider, educator, and beloved Nashville.

Whereas Frankie May Keelan Henry, one of Nashville's last living freedom riders and a courageous participant in the civil rights movement, departed this life at the age of 85, leaving behind a legacy of service, sacrifice, courage, and unwavering commitment to justice.

Whereas a young student at Tennessee State University, Miss Keeling Henry answered the call of a generation determined to confront segregation and racial injustice in America.

Joining the historical historic Nashville lunch counter sit-ins after an encounter with civil rights leader Diane Nash.

And whereas Ms.

Killing Henry stood shoulder to shoulder with young people who would go on to change the course of American history, including leaders such as John Lewis, demonstrating extraordinary bravery in the face of hatred, violence, and intimidation, and whereas during the sit-ins, Miss Henry endured a physical assault when a white woman burned her arm with a cigarette and attempts to set her poncho on fire, yet she remained committed to the principles of nonviolence, dignity, and discipline protests that define the Nashville Movement and whereas after peacefully participating in the demonstrations, Miss Keeling Henry and her fellow protesters were arrested and jailed for two years, two weeks rather, suffering the consequences of standing on the right side of history during one of the nation's darkest chapters, and whereas because of her uh imprisonment and participation in the movement, Miss Keeling Henry received failing grades due to missed coursework and was forced to leave school, a painful reminder of the personal cost many young activists paid in the pursuit of equity uh in the pursuit of equality and justice and whereas despite those setbacks, Miss Keeling Henry persevered and ultimately earned her degree from Tennessee State University in 1970, exemplifying resilience, determination, and faith in the power in education and where Miss Keeling Henry, whereas Miss Keeling Henry devoted her professional life to educating future generations, serving as an educator who not only taught academic lessons but also carried forward the living history of the civil rights movement by speaking to students across Tennessee about black history, civic responsibility, and the ongoing struggle for justice and equality, and whereas through her life and testimony, Miss Keeling Henry ensured that the sacrifice of ordinary citizens who transformed Nashville and this nation would never be forgotten, reminding generations that progress is not inevitable, but instead requires courage, persistence, and collective action, and whereas Miss Keeling Henry represented the very best of Nashville, a woman whose quiet strength, moral clarity, and willingness to sacrifice for others helped move the city and this country closer to its ideals and.

Whereas it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council honor the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of Frankie Mae Keeling Henry, whose courage helped shape the city of Nashville and whose legacy will continue to inspire future generations to pursue justice, equity, and freedom for all.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the council of the metropolitan government of Nashville and Davison County, the Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record to honor and celebrate the life, courage, and legacy of Frankie Mae Keel and Henry, Freedom Rider, education, educator, civil rights activist, and treasured daughter of Nashville.

The Metropolitan Council extends its deepest condolences, prayers, and sympathies to the Henry family and all those mourning the loss of Miss Keelin Henry, while giving thanks for a life that profoundly impacted Nashville, Tennessee and this nation.

This resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of the Metropolitan government of Nashville and Davison County requiring it.

And I want to say that this resolution was uh sponsored by every single council member that was present in voting on the day of its passage.

And I want to give Mr.

Lamont Henry an opportunity to speak about his mama.

Good evening, everyone.

First of all, thank you so very much for honoring my mother and the dedication that she had for this city.

Uh, at a 19 as a 19-year-old uh sophomore student, uh, she said in Woolworths for all of us to be able to sit together to eat, to go to the same restaurant, to drink out of the same water fountain.

Let's make sure that we keep this legacy going.

Uh, two words discipline and fairness.

That's what she wanted.

So I encourage all of y'all to make sure that you keep that in mind, discipline and fairness.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

She took it from me like this.

All right, thank you so very much.

And we have some special guests joining us today.

Uh, we have Brandy Bishop, who is coming up representing MC3, and we also have the newest cohort of MC3 soon-to-be graduates joining us.

And Miss Brandy is making her way up.