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WHEREAS, Harvey Milk attended New York State College for Teachers from 1947-1951 and then joined the Navy and served in the Korean War and was discharged in 1955 with the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade; and
WHEREAS, after a variety of careers including, teacher, actuarial statistician, researcher on Wall Street and general aide in a theater company, Harvey Milk settled in San Francisco, opening his own camera store on Castro Street; and
WHEREAS, Harvey Milk quickly became involved in the neighborhood and was soon known as the Mayor of Castro Street; as a staunch friend of labor, Harvey Milk worked with the Teamsters' union to organize a strike against establishments which would not use union laborers, and led the famous boycott of Coors beer when Coors contributed heavily to Anita Bryant's campaign to repeal Dade County's gay rights ordinance; and
WHEREAS, on January 8, 1978, Harvey Milk was sworn in as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, giving hope to so many, and quoting from his famous "Hope" speech "The only thing they have to look forward to is hope. And you have to give them hope. Hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow. . . Hope that all will be all right... And after all it's what this is all about. It's not about personal gain, not about ego, not about power-it's about giving those young people out there in the Altoona, Pennsylvania's [of America] hope. You gotta give them hope." and
WHEREAS , Harvey Milk on November 18, 1978, knowing he would be killed for his convictions, eerily predicted his future when he recorded a living will that contained his most recognized quote: "If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door." And
WHEREAS , Harvey Milk and San Francisco Mayor, George Moscone, just nine days later, indeed paid the ultimate price for their convictions, when on November 27, 1978 they were assassinated in San Francisco's City Hall by fellow Board Supervisor Dan White; one bullet to the chest and two bullets point blank range to the head; and
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does recognize and honor Harvey Bernard Milk for laying down his life to end discrimination based on sexual orientation, opening the door of American politics for a too long disenfranchised segment of the American people and for bringing hope of a better day to millions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby proclaim, Thursday, November 27, 2008, the thirtieth anniversary of his assassination, as Harvey Milk Day, in the City of Pittsburgh.