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At its most recent Board of Aldermen meeting, the City of Clinton formally recognized May 2025 as Lupus Awareness Month with the signing of an official proclamation by Mayor Phil Fisher.

The proclamation was presented in the presence of Totonya Jackson, a passionate advocate for Lupus awareness, who attended the meeting alongside members of her family. Their continued efforts to raise awareness about this chronic autoimmune disease were recognized and appreciated by city leaders.

Lupus affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans, disproportionately impacting women and communities of color. The disease can be difficult to diagnose and presents a wide range of symptoms, which makes public education and awareness critical to early detection and treatment.

“By declaring May as Lupus Awareness Month, the City of Clinton affirms its support for those affected and joins communities across the country in highlighting the importance of research, advocacy, and support services,” said Mayor Fisher.

The City encourages residents to take time this month to learn more about Lupus, support those living with the condition, and advocate for continued research and education.

The proclamation reads as follows:

WHEREAS, according to the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA), an estimated 1.5
million Americans, and an estimated 5 million people worldwide, have a form of
lupus; and

WHEREAS, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), “Lupus is a
chronic, autoimmune disease that affects many different parts of the body. An
autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s immune system attacks itself because it
cannot tell the difference between healthy tissue and foreign invaders, such as
bacteria and viruses”; and

WHEREAS, lupus can affect any part of the body, including the skin, lungs, heart,
kidneys and brain. The disease can cause seizures, strokes, heart attacks,
miscarriages, and organ failure; and

WHEREAS, lupus is a global health problem that affects millions of individuals of
all nationalities, races, ethnicities, genders and ages worldwide; however, according
to LFA, ninety percent of people living with lupus are women; and

WHEREAS, the CDC also reports that because lupus symptoms can show up in
many different ways and are often mistaken for symptoms of other diseases, it can be
hard to diagnose, thus, causing people with lupus to suffer longer than necessary
before they can obtain a correct diagnosis and appropriate medical treatment; and,
for this reason, lupus is often called the “great imitator”; and

WHEREAS, the words of President Ronald Reagan in his 1986 Proclamation 5523
– Lupus Awareness month serves as a continuing reminder: “In order for us to take
advantage of the knowledge already gained, public awareness of the symptoms and
treatment of lupus – and of the need for continuing scientific research- remains
essential. .. Working together, our objective must be to uncover the cause and find a
cure for this devastating disease.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Phil Fisher, Mayor of the City of Clinton, do hereby
proclaim May, 2025 as Lupus Awareness Month in the City of Clinton, MS.