Montgomery County Council proclaims February Black History Month, honors local leaders

Montgomery County Council President Natalie Fani Gonzalez opened the county’s Black History Month commemoration, welcoming residents and local leaders and saying the county will "not let" the record of Black history be erased. The event featured remarks from council members, a video tribute and a formal proclamation declaring February as Black History Month for the county.

Councilmember Yawando framed the observance in the context of national and local debates over how history is presented, recounting the story of Ona Judge, an enslaved woman who fled George Washington’s household, to illustrate his point. "There’s no executive order. There’s no federal directive. There’s no erasure that we’re gonna allow here in Montgomery County," he said, calling for active efforts to preserve and teach Black history.

Councilmember Lorian Sales said the county’s upcoming budget must reflect its values through "equitable investments" and announced that one of her first committee sessions will prioritize racial disparities in maternal and infant health. Sales described equity as something measured by outcomes rather than intentions.

Councilmember Sherra Evans opened her remarks with scripture and emphasized faith and resilience as central to local Black history, noting multiple longtime community leaders in the audience.

A video tribute introduced former County Executive Isaiah "Ike" Leggett, who spoke about his modest upbringing and public-service priorities, including efforts on fiscal accountability, the creation of an inspector general position and early public smoking restrictions. Leggett said the most important part of his service was "helping people who really needed help." Administrative Judge Carla Smith described her decision to seek a judgeship after noting the scarcity of Black judges on local benches and said that seeing people who look like them in courtrooms can shape how residents feel about the justice system.

Speakers also described the work of the Commission on Reconciliation and Remembrance, founded by council members to document and commemorate racial terror and lynchings in county history; the commission has erected historical markers and collected soil samples at related sites.

President Gonzalez concluded by reading the County Council proclamation formally declaring February as Black History Month in Montgomery County, thanking organizers and inviting attendees to a photo and reception.

The commemoration highlighted local honorees and a renewed pledge by council members to prioritize racial equity in county policy and budgeting.