“One Human Family” Celebrates 20 Years… and a Pavilion!

On October 17, 2000, the Key West City Commission unanimously adopted “One Human Family” as our official philosophy. The resolution read that “all people are our equals,” and urged growing beyond “the artificial limitations of racism, nationalism, sexism, classism, monotheism, prejudice, homophobia and every other illusion used to separate us from all being equal.”

Key West is the first city ever to declare that all people are entitled to equal rights, dignity and respect.

On September 16th of this year the City Commission again voted unanimously, this time to officially name the portico and the bandstand in Bayview Park. The small portico was built in 1924 by a chapter of the KKK to honor Confederate soldiers.

City Commissioner Sam Kaufman proposed naming the portico and bandstand together as the One Human Family Pavilion. Kaufman explained, “now the time is right. There is a higher consciousness in the country, and I see this as unifying rather than divisive. We must always remember our history to be vigilant against all forms of hate. This is a positive step.”

The large bandstand was erected in 1990 by then-City Commissioner Sally Lewis, working with State Representative Ron Saunders and the Cultural Affairs Committee, but it was never given a formal name.

City Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover said the Pavilion could be “a new field trip for school kids, because we do have some dark parts of our history that cannot be ignored.”

JT Thompson added, “we are not erasing history in any way, but rather adding a positive statement about who we are today.”

The One Human Family Pavilion is adjacent to Bayview Park’s beautiful Military Memorials that include a large statue dedicated to Black soldiers who fought for the Union in the Civil War.

The dedication of the One Human Family Pavilion will be at 5 p.m. this Saturday, October 17th, exactly 20 years to the day after the phrase’s adoption.

“Everyone is invited to attend the celebration which promotes not only unity, but equal dignity and respect for all people,” said Thompson. “Please note: this is NOT a political event, so bring your open heart, but please leave political materials at home.”

There will be lots of free stickers and wristbands for everyone to send to friends and loved ones. They are an uplifting message of hope to include in holiday cards.

“Show what our motto means to you,” said Thompson, “and with ‘One Human Family’ in our hearts and our actions, we are working together to make the world of tomorrow a better place. And Key West is a loving, inclusive community showing the world that we can live as one!”

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