Spokane City Council adopted a resolution recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth as significant cultural milestones after an extended public-comment period in which residents and local organizations urged the council to adopt the stronger, original language.

Dozens of speakers — including representatives of the Spokane NAACP, the Human Rights Commission, educators and students — framed the resolution as more than symbolic and said it protects longstanding community observances. "Black history is American history," said multiple commenters, and speakers stressed that preserving direct language matters for public memory and education.

Councilmembers debated a proposed title amendment intended to change the resolution’s wording to avoid sounding exclusionary; the amendment required suspension of the rules and failed. Council president Wilkerson urged the body to give the community what it asked for, and multiple council members affirmed the broader goal of supporting cultural celebrations. One member said a national search process would have been appropriate for certain appointments discussed earlier, but that procedural concerns did not bear on the resolution itself.

The resolution drew broad public support from faith leaders, students and long‑time community organizers who said the resolution advances civic recognition and local education efforts. After debate and the failed amendment, the council adopted the resolution (voice vote recorded as passing). The council also flagged next steps including continued community engagement around observances and events tied to the two days recognized.

(Next step: resolution to be reflected in city messaging and local event coordination.)