Salt Lake County employees joined Mayor Ben McAdams this afternoon for the fourth annual Stand Against Racism program at the county government building. It’s part of a nationwide campaign hosted by the YWCA.
In a celebration of their culture, young women in traditional dress performed a Peruvian dance for attendees.
Members of the mayor’s Council on Diversity Affairs recited a pledge against racism in their native languages and shared stories about overcoming prejudice and bias.
Mayor McAdams says Salt Lake County is an increasingly diverse community and he wants to make sure government values differences.
“Today is about recognizing both, and condemning overt racism, but recognizing that there is maybe a little bit of bias or preconception in each of us and we want to identify that and overcome it,” McAdams says. “And really see people for the value they bring to the community and not box them in based on a prejudice.”
In 2013, Salt Lake County began requiring employees to go through diversity training.
