PROCLAMATION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COTATI
CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH
WHEREAS, on June 19, 1865 - nearly nine decades after our Nation’s founding, and more than 2 years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation - enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally received word that they were free from bondage and were recognized for the first time as citizens; and
WHEREAS, Black Americans came to commemorate Juneteenth with celebrations across the country, building new lives and a new tradition that we honor today; and WHEREAS, in its celebration of freedom, Juneteenth is a day that should be recognized by all Americans; and
WHEREAS, Juneteenth is a day in which we remember the moral stain and terrible toll of slavery on our country; and
WHEREAS, Juneteenth is also a day that also reminds us of our incredible capacity to heal, hope, and emerge from our darkest moments with purpose and resolve; and WHEREAS, we celebrate the centuries of struggle, courage, and hope that have brought us to this time of progress and possibility and everyday Americans who have helped make real the ideals of our founding documents for all; and
WHEREAS, on Juneteenth, we recommit ourselves to the work of equity, equality, and justice.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED on this day of June 11, 2024 that the City Council of the City of Cotati hereby celebrates June 19, 2024 as Juneteenth.
Approved:_____________________________
Mayor