Proclamation Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Recognizing June 19, 2023, As Juneteenth Freedom Day In The City Of Emeryville WHEREAS, June 19, 2023, is declared as Juneteenth Freedom Day, a nationally recognized day which celebrates the rich culture, legacy, and heritage of Black and African American people; and WHEREAS, 2023 marks the 158th year of Juneteenth Freedom Day with Juneteenth being the oldest known celebration commemorating the abolition of slavery in the United States, dating back to June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended, freeing the enslaved; and WHEREAS, this was two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation which became official on January 1, 1863; and WHEREAS, the United States Congress – between 1865 and 1870 – would pass key amendments to the U.S. Constitution, that upon ratification by each state, would profoundly change the legal status of those once enslaved. The thirteenth amendment abolished bonded servitude. The fourteenth amendment conferred citizenship upon those once enslaved. Finally, the fifteenth amendment enfranchised men once held in bondage; and WHEREAS, today, Juneteenth Freedom Day celebrates Black and African American people’s freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures, as it takes a more national, symbolic, and global perspective, to ensure the events of 1865 are not forgotten; and WHEREAS, the observance of Juneteenth honors the history and perseverance of Black and African American people, and celebrates America’s progress and continuing commitment to realizing the principles of liberty and equality upon which our nation was founded; and now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Emeryville that June 19, 2023, is proclaimed Juneteenth Freedom Day, and the community is called upon to redouble its commitment to use its power to stamp out hate, racism, and inequities and continue the work of equity, justice, and hope.
PROCLAIMED, by the Mayor of the City Council of the City of Emeryville at a regular meeting held Tuesday, June 6, 2023.
MAYOR
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
Proclamation