DOVER — The City Council postponed discussion of a resolution calling for a statement to be read before all of its meetings, acknowledging the city stands on "unceded" land that was once the home of Indigenous tribes.
One councilor, who objected, said he was "disappointed" with the proposal, raising concerns it could cause divisions in the community.
The proposed statement, known as a land acknowledgment, was proposed by the City Council's Ad Hoc Committee on Racial Equity and Inclusion as a way to acknowledge the history of Dover’s settlement and how it displaced Indigenous populations.
City Councilor Dennis Shanahan on Wednesday night requested the item be removed from the agenda and postponed until a future meeting, after concerns from city councilors were brought to his attention and the attention of the Racial Equity and Inclusion Committee and City Council. The postponement was unanimously approved by the council without discussion.