Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Culture topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Gaithersburg proclaims Black History Month; honors local arts leader Jackie DuPee
Summary
Mayor Judd Ashman proclaimed February 2026 as Black History Month for the city of Gaithersburg and presented a proclamation to community arts leader Jackie DuPee, who recounted family civil‑rights history and a recent racist incident she reported to her employer.
Mayor Judd Ashman read a proclamation on Feb. 2 declaring February 2026 as Black History Month in the City of Gaithersburg and invited community honoree Jackie DuPee to the podium.
"I, Judd Ashman, by the power vested in me as mayor of Gaithersburg, do hereby proclaim February 2026 as Black History Month in the city of Gaithersburg," the mayor read. The proclamation highlighted contributions of Black Americans and encouraged residents, educators and businesses to recognize the month.
Jackie DuPee accepted the honor and spoke about her family's civil‑rights history, including relatives who challenged segregation and served as volunteer firefighters. She also described a recent incident at her workplace in which a caller used a racial slur; she said she reported the incident to her supervisor and to human resources. "That stung," DuPee told the council as she related how the episode underscored the continued importance of remembering the past while working for change.
Council members and the mayor applauded and invited DuPee and her family for photos. The proclamation text and a list of Black History Month events were written to encourage residents to attend city programming, including lectures, museum exhibits and community workshops hosted by the Benjamin Gaither Center, Gaithersburg Community Museum and the Multicultural Affairs Committee.
