Controversy surrounding another City of Vacaville proclamation has surfaced online, as this year the city’s proclamation for Martin Luther King Jr. Day was presented in a different Solano County city.

Vacaville Councilmember Roy Stockton attended the Solano Black Chamber of Commerce’s Martin Luther King Day celebration, presenting a proclamation on behalf of Mayor John Carli and the Vacaville City Council. The event was hosted in McCormick Hall in the Solano County Fairgrounds in Vallejo from 1 to 3 p.m., concurrent with the Vacaville People’s Forum event in Vacaville from noon until 2 p.m. Stockton noted his attendance and posted photos of himself and the proclamation to Facebook.

Carli, according to another Facebook post, was in Washington DC Monday and attended the “Rally 4 Vets” inaugural ball following the Presidential Inauguration.

“I am truly appreciative to live in a community that not only recognizes the importance of his message but actively works to uphold his dream of equality, justice, and love for all,” Stockton wrote in his post. “It’s inspiring to see so many individuals committed to making a difference and continuing the fight for civil rights.”

Stockton wrote that he hoped the community would “continue to celebrate and embody the values Dr. King stood for.”

“Today’s event was a beautiful reminder of the strength and unity in our community as we come together to honor Dr. King’s remarkable legacy,” he wrote.

Mary Vasquez, president of the Vacaville People’s Forum, commented on the original Facebook post, criticizing Stockton for attending the SBC event rather than the VPF event.

“While we appreciate the support of Dr. King’s message in any capacity, it is truly disappointing that you went to another city that you do not represent as a City Councilmember, but declined to respond to, or participate in, an MLK event right here in Vacaville,” Vasquez wrote.

Vasquez alleged that Stockton was invited to the VPF event but he did not respond.

“Your city and constituents would like to see you doing the work here in Vacaville,” she wrote.

Four members of the Vacaville City Council attended the VPF event: Vice Mayor Sarah Chapman and Councilmembers Greg Ritchie, Jeanette Wylie and Mike Silva. Former Councilmember Jason Roberts, State Senator Chris Cabaldon and State Assemblymember Lori Wilson also attended the VPF event along with several other elected officials. Cabaldon spoke at both events, according to his office, as well as a march in Vallejo.

Chapman welcomed those gathered at the VPF event “on behalf of the city of Vacaville” but gave no proclamation. Named Vice Mayor last week, she is the first Black woman to hold the position in the city’s history.

“If it wasn’t for his work, do you think I would be standing before you as a black female from Nashville Tennessee?” Chapman asked.

The Solano Black Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page responded to Vasquez, noting that it is a countywide chamber with more than 300 members in Vacaville and a “longstanding working relationship with Councilmember Stockton and Mayor Carli.”

“This is not the messaging that the organizer of a community organization that just completed their own MLK Event in Vacaville should be extending,” the reply reads.

Vasquez offered the chamber congratulations on its event and expressed thanks for all community events sharing King’s message.

“We expect our elected officials in our town to be the example and serve our community,” Vasquez continued. “Many electeds participated in multiple events today. As a councilmember, he had the opportunity to participate in multiple events.”

“Understood, we made it easy for him, we brought many of his constituents to him in one place that represented the entire County,” the page replied.

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The proclamation presented by Stockton bears the name of the “City of Vacaville ” and the name and signature of Mayor John Carli. It also provides basic biographic details on King and a short history of the federal holiday. The document proclaims January 20 ” Martin Luther King, Jr Day in the City of Vacaville,” and does not name the Solano Black Chamber of Commerce, nor reference the entire county.

“We remember Dr. King as a husband, father, friend, and fierce advocate for the betterment of all people and honor his memory by organizing, volunteering and engaging in community service that reflects his values of equality, justice and compassion,” the proclamation reads.

A Vacaville Proclamation became the source of considerable controversy last year, as Carli declined to sign the city’s Pride Proclamation, leaving Vice Mayor Greg Ritchie to sign it instead. Carli also penned the proclamation himself and did not use the preferred language sent to each city in the county by the Solano Pride Center.

The Vacaville People’s Forum called out Carli at the time for his decision not to sign in a statement released online.

“By declining to issue a Pride Month Proclamation that celebrates and affirms the LGBTQIA+ community, or acknowledges the history of violence and continued discrimination they endure, our mayor has clearly shown that he has no interest in representing the estimated 8,000 to 9,000 residents in Vacaville who identify as LGBTQIA+,” the statement read.