the Mayor’s Committee on Unity
In 1944, Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia created the Mayor’s Committee on Unity (MCOU) by an Executive Order in response to growing concerns about race relations and religious discrimination in the City. Following the Harlem Riots in 1935 and 1943, and tensions towards religious minorities, the committee was established to “make New York City a place where people of all races and religions may work and live side by side in harmony and have mutual respect for each other, and where democracy is a living reality.” MCOU was led by a dedicated (and integrated) executive team and volunteer committee members. Without any legal authority, the Committee was tasked with researching, analyzing and proposing recommendations to address persistent discrimination and social inequities in the City. The Committee on Unity continued to serve under mayoral administrations following LaGuardia until 1955.
Efforts made by MCOU which included community outreach, preparing reports on findings, working with outside civic and government agencies, and making recommendations to the mayor on ways to improve human rights within the City are highlighted in this gallery.
