Following public comment during the Jan. 27 Colorado Springs City Council meeting decrying the lack of a Black History Month proclamation on that meeting’s agenda, a proclamation is on the agenda for the Council’s Feb. 10 meeting – but it’s not the proclamation drafted at the request of Councilor Kimberly Gold last month. The new proclamation is similar, but unlike the first, does not name notable past and present black leaders in Colorado Springs.
First Black History Month Proclamation 2026
Council Leadership’s Black History Month Proclamation 2026.doc
Council President Lynette Crow-Iverson said Shirley Martinez, a respected community activist, will be the proclamation presenter.
Crow-Iverson also said public comment will not be allowed ahead of the vote on the proclamation.
“Public comment will not be accepted as there is no vote on proclamations,” she said.
However, the Council does accept public comment ahead of proclamations at times; it did recently ahead of a proclamation honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Pikes Peak Bulletin asked Crow-Iverson why this proclamation would not include public comment when others have. She did not respond.
Last year, the City Council and Colorado Spring Mayor Yemi Mobolade issued a joint proclamation recognizing February as Black History Month.
Crow-Iverson told the Bulletin, “The reason City Council did not do a joint proclamation with the Mayor [this year] is straightforward: the Mayor declined to participate in a joint proclamation and has stated he is putting a pause on future joint proclamations for the time being. Council was prepared to proceed jointly, but once that option was off the table, Council moved forward independently, consistent with past practice.”
The Bulletin reached out to the Mayor’s Office for comment on the reason for not doing a joint proclamation with Council, and on the joint resolution pause. A spokesperson responded, “Historically, the Mayor issues proclamations while Council issues resolutions. On occasions, Mayor Yemi welcomes the opportunity to issue joint proclamations.”
The spokesperson did not provide an explanation of why a joint proclamation would not be issued in this case, nor if or why joint proclamations were paused.
Mayor Yemi Mobolade issued a Black History Month proclamation on Feb. 4 at local business Caffeinated Cow. It honored “local trailblazers such as pioneering business leader Fannie Mae Duncan, visionary educators like Dr. Kenneth Burnley, steadfast civil rights champions like Milton E. Proby, and the many individuals whose courage and commitment empowered generations, shattered barriers, and fostered lasting economic opportunity and community strength.”
Click here to read the Mayor’s Black History Month Proclamation 2026
Gold proposed a Black History Month proclamation to other councilors via email on Jan. 13. They had until end-of-day on Jan. 16 to respond in favor or against, with five of nine members’ support needed to put the item on the agenda. The proclamation did not gather enough supporters to come to a vote.
Gold said she was not a part of the most recent iteration of the proclamation.
“I was not consulted with or communicated with about the changes,” Gold told the Bulletin. “And while I’m extraordinarily grateful that City Council is doing a [Black History Month] proclamation, I’m also saddened that local leaders like Mayor Leon Young, Senator Tony Exum, and June Waller won’t be recognized in the historic 100 year anniversary of Black History Month.”
Crow-Iverson said, “Proclamations are intentionally kept concise and broadly inclusive. Council historically avoids enumerated lists to prevent omissions or the appearance of selective recognition.”
Information on the Colorado Springs City Council including meeting schedules, agendas, and contact information may be found on the City website.
