City of Tallahassee may follow suit after county apologizes for history of racism, slavery

The Tallahassee City Commission may be following in the recent footsteps of the Leon County Commission in acknowledging and issuing an apology for the city's role in slavery and the Jim Crow Laws of the past.

Commissioner Jack Porter brought up the issue at the end of Wednesday's meeting making a motion for staff to work on a resolution for the commission to later vote on.

"I think it's important that the city join the county in doing that and showing unity," Porter said. "... I think it's especially meaningful now as we celebrate our bicentennial."

Following Porter's appeal, Mayor John Dailey quickly called for a vote and without discussion commissioners unanimously agreed on the motion.

Leon County commissioners unanimously voted at Tuesday's meeting on its resolution, which was first brought up at their annual retreat last month.

The resolution serves as both an apology and works to "affirm Leon County's commitment to advancing equality and ensuring protection of the fundamental rights of individuals regardless of race, color, religion or national origin."

Commissioner Bill Proctor, who pushed for the resolution, shared that the resolution made him emotional and that it was a "significant statement of the bicentennial year of our county and a statement to the future ... that we recognize what our county has been."

The moves by the city and county come after Tallahassee's First Presbyterian Church unveiled a plaque with an apology, a request for forgiveness, and a commitment to “repair racism’s reach.” 

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Arianna Otero is the City Solutions Reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact her via email at AOtero@tallahassee.com or on Twitter/X: @ari_v_otero.