U.S. Senate Declares '19th of June' 

as "Juneteenth Independence Day"

in America

posted by National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) 

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Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (6/24/14)

Contact: Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Chairman
National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign
National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)
National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC)
             662-392-2016    662-247-1471
             e-mail: JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com 

             web sites: www.NationalJuneteenth.com 

 

 

U.S. Senate Declares the '19th of June'
as "Juneteenth Independence Day" in America
 
President Obama Urged to Support the Establishment
of Juneteenth as a National Day of Observance
 
 
Sen. Carl Levin
Sen. Carl Levin 
 
Ron Myers
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D. 
 
President Obama
President Barack Obama 
 
 
(Washington, DC) - America now has two Independence Days, the "4th of July" and the "19th of June",  recognized by the U.S. Senate. S.R. 474, sponsored by Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), with over 40 co-sponsors, unanimously passed the U.S. Senate on June 14, 2014, marking a historic legislative milestone in the acknowledgement the country's legacy of enslavement to freedom for Americans of African descent. Only one step remains in the establishment of Juneteenth Independence Day as a National Day of Observance, placed on calendars throughout the nation, the visible leadership and personal support of President Barack Obama.

 

Juneteenth, or the "19th of June", recognizes June 19, 1865, in Galveston, TX, when

Union General Gordon Granger announced freedom for all slaves in the Southwest. Texas the last state in rebellion to allow slavery following the end of the Civil War. This occurred more than

two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham

Lincoln. After the issuing of General Order #3 by General Granger, the former slaves celebrated jubilantly, establishing America's second Independence Day Celebration and the oldest  

African American holiday observance.

Juneteenth is now recognized as a state holiday or special day of observance in
43 states. In

2003, the District of Columbia passed legislation to recognize Juneteenth as a district holiday

observance. 

 

The "Modern Juneteenth Movement" began in 1994 at Christian Unity Baptist Church, in New

Orleans, LA, with the selection of Rev. Dr. Myers as the Chairman of a black grassroots effort to 

gain greater recognition of Juneteenth in America. His leadership of the movement's legislative 

accomplishments in the official recognition of Juneteenth throughout the country has provided

America the unique opportunity to effectively confront its' difficult and dark legacy of

enslavement through the celebration of freedom.      

 

"America needs healing from the legacy of enslavement," states Rev. Dr. Myers, also

Founder & Chairman of the National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC). "Juneteenth is celebrated on the '19th of June' and now we recognize the '18th of June' as the National Day of Reconciliation and Healing from the Legacy of Enslavement."

 

Throughout the tenure of many U.S. Presidents, Rev. Dr. Myers continues to urge the White House to take the leadership role in the celebration of freedom during Juneteenth as the vehicle to bring reconciliation and healing from the legacy of enslavement in the nation.   

 

In a recent letter, Dr. Myers requested that President Obama honor the enslaved Americans who built the White House by hosting a Juneteenth Celebration at the White House in June.

"Juneteenth has never been celebrated in the White House," states Dr. Myers. "We hope that President Obama will agree to celebrate freedom and honor the Americans of African descent who were not free when the White House was built during the tyranny of enslavement."

Dr. Myers has also requested that President Obama issue a Presidential Proclamation to recognize
Juneteenth. Thousands of petitions have been forwarded to the White House over recent years supporting Dr. Myers' request.

 

"As a U.S. Senator from Illinois, President Obama successfully sponsored legislation to recognize Juneteenth Independence Day in the U.S. Senate in 2006," states Dr. Myers. "We hope that not only will President Obama issue a Juneteenth Proclamation and support legislation to make Juneteenth Independence Day a National Day of Observance, but also lead the nation in healing from the legacy of enslavement."

 

For more information on the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign and the National Day of Reconciliation and Healing from the Legacy of Enslavement, contact

Dr. Myers at 662-392-2016, e-mail: JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com or web site: www.NationalJuneteenth.com.

  

 

  

S.RES.474 -- Designating June 19, 2014, as 'Juneteenth Independence Day' in recognition of June 19, 1865, the day on which slavery legally came to an end in the United States. (Agreed to Senate - ATS).

SRES 474 ATS

113th CONGRESS

2nd Session

S. RES. 474

Designating June 19, 2014, as 'Juneteenth Independence Day'
in recognition of June 19, 1865, the day on which slavery legally came to an end in the United States.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 12, 2014


Mr. LEVIN (for himself, Mr. CORNYN, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mrs. HAGAN, Mr. HARKIN, Mr. DURBIN, Ms. WARREN, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. PRYOR, Mrs. BOXER, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. TOOMEY, Mr. WARNER, Mr. CASEY, Mr. KAINE, Mr. FRANKEN, Mr. NELSON, Mr. REID, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. LEAHY, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. PAUL, Mr. COONS, Mr. CRUZ, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. WICKER, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. SCOTT, Mr. PORTMAN, Mr. BEGICH, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. BENNET, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. BROWN, Ms. MURKOWSKI, and Mr. LEE) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


RESOLUTION


Designating June 19, 2014, as 'Juneteenth Independence Day' in recognition of June 19, 1865, the day on which slavery legally came to an end in the United States.

Whereas news of the end of slavery did not reach the frontier areas of the United States, in particular the State of Texas and other Southwestern States, until months after the conclusion of the Civil War, more than 2 1/2 years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863;

Whereas, on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were free;

Whereas African-Americans who had been slaves in the Southwest celebrated June 19, commonly known as 'Juneteenth Independence Day', as inspiration and encouragement for future generations;

Whereas African-Americans from the Southwest, for nearly 150 years, have continued the tradition of observing 'Juneteenth Independence Day';

Whereas 43 States, the District of Columbia, and other countries, have designated 'Juneteenth Independence Day' as a special day of observance in recognition of the emancipation of all slaves in the United States;

Whereas 'Juneteenth Independence Day' celebrations have been held to honor African-American freedom while encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures;

Whereas the faith and strength of character demonstrated by former slaves and their descendants remain an example for all people of the United States, regardless of background, religion, or race;

Whereas slavery was not officially abolished until the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution in January 1865;

Whereas Frederick Douglass, born in the State of Maryland in 1818, escaped from slavery and became a leading writer, orator, publisher, and one of the United States' most influential advocates for abolitionism and the equality of all people;

Whereas Frederick Douglass was recognized for his accomplishments with a statue that was unveiled during a ceremony on June 19, 2013, in Emancipation Hall of the United States Capitol;

Whereas 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.), signed into law on July 2, 1964, a milestone in providing equal protections for African-Americans, including former slaves and their descendants; and

Whereas, over the course of its history, the United States has grown into a symbol of democracy and freedom around the world: Now, therefore, be it

      
Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) designates June 19, 2014, as 'Juneteenth Independence Day';

(2) recognizes the historical significance of 'Juneteenth Independence Day' to the United States;

(3) supports the continued nationwide celebration of 'Juneteenth Independence Day' to provide an opportunity for the people of the United States to learn more about the past and to better understand the experiences that have shaped the United States; and

(4) recognizes that the observance of the end of slavery is a part of the history and heritage of the United States.