In a recent meeting, the St. Louis Park City Council acknowledged December 18 as International Migrants Day, a day that the United Nations has marked since 2000 to spotlight the challenges migrants face and to celebrate their perseverance and significant contributions to society. A proclamation was issued highlighting these themes and emphasizing Minnesota's commitment to fostering a more equitable and diverse community.
As noted by the City of St. Louis Park's social media post, the proclamation recognized the state's migrant population of 449,000, including those who migrate by choice as well as the 35.3 million refugees by the end of 2022, according to UNHCR. It also acknowledged the strenuous journeys that migrants endure, with at least 9,000 having died or gone missing in the Americas since 2014—and possibly many more unreported cases.
The proclamation affirms that migrants are not only neighbors and colleagues but also pivotal members of various professions, contributing to the cultural, economic, and social fabric of Minnesota, as per the City of St. Louis Park. Their roles in labor, culture, and gastronomy are facets of Minnesotan life that residents benefit from daily. To shed light on the complexities of migrant experiences, the City of St. Louis Park advocates for community learning and action to ensure that migrants are treated with respect, dignity, and opportunity.
"Now therefore, let it be known that the mayor and city council of the City of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, observe December 18th as International Migrants Day in our community," the proclamation concluded, reflecting a stance for inclusivity and advocacy in an era when the plight and contributions of migrants often go unnoticed in broader societal narratives.
