February is Black History Month, an opportunity to honor our fellow Americans whose justifiably proud history illustrates the best of humanity's values – a history written in blood, sweat and tears that give life to otherwise hollow words in our sacred Constitution . . . We the People.

We celebrate a community's painful history whose sacrifices today empowers all Americans' rightful claims to freedom of religion, speech, the press and rights of assembly and petition.

A peoples' history that is indelibly emblazoned in our Constitution's 13th, 14th, 15th and 19th Amendments.

A painful history that gives life to the words contained in this morning's ceremonial pledge of allegiance – with liberty and justice for all.

A Black-led history that purveyors of bigotry seek to erase by banning teaching of truthful but discomfiting history;

Challenged by history-denying legislators placing barriers to free and unfettered voting;

Challenged by history-ignorant bullies threatening violence against Board of Supervisors responsible for honest administration of elections;

Challenged by respectable ideologues signing onto false electoral college certification, all challenges tolerated by deceived partisans who continue to give aid and comfort to the leader of the most vicious attacks against our nation's democratic republic.

Following last month's Pinal County-hosted Big Lie rally, this past week the disgraced former president unwittingly confessed that he indeed attempted forcing his own Vice President to overthrow our Constitution's provision for peaceful transfer of presidential power.

Thanks to the Trump-infused Supreme Court, congressional investigators now have access to White House records that will reveal Trump's involvement in the planning and execution of the violent attempt at overthrowing our duly elected government.

Other unfolding contrasts continue to highlight the proud Black History of patriotic allegiance to our democratic republic.

Three minutes at a Board of Supervisors call to the public is insufficient for further contrasts of genuine patriotism.

Hopefully this Board can find time for scheduling an open forum where we can find common ground for rescuing our threatened democratic republic.

For now, I salute Black History Month for demonstrating that our nation's unique and enlightened system of government is worth the blood, sweat and tears that's been sacrificed for our nation.

It's time for all of us to redeem ourselves!

Statement at Pinal County Board of Supervisors, February 2, 2022, by Pinal County resident, Roberto Reveles.