PROCLAMATION
RECOGNIZING JUNE 19, 2024 AS JUNETEENTH
IN THE CITY OF HERCULES
WHEREAS, America does not only celebrate our independence on July 4, Juneteenth, coined by combining the words June and nineteenth, also known as “Juneteenth Independence Day,” “Emancipation Day,” “Emancipation Celebration,” and “Freedom Day,” is the oldest African American holiday observance in the United States; and WHEREAS, Events in the history of the United States that led to the start of the Civil War in 1861 centered on sectional differences between the North and the South that were based on the economic and social divergence caused by the existence of slavery; and WHEREAS, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring the freedom of enslaved persons of the confederate territory and paving the way for the passing of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America; and WHEREAS, on June 19, 1865, almost two and one-half years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation Union soldiers led by General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, informing Thousands of enslaved people in Texas of their liberation and the abolition of slavery; and WHEREAS, Juneteenth is the best-known and one of the oldest American holidays that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States; it commemorates the date June 19, 1865, when the last African American slaves held in Confederate states were freed and has been observed since June 19, 1866; and WHEREAS, Juneteenth became a state holiday in Texas in 1980, and several other states subsequently followed suit. The day is also celebrated outside the United States, with organizations in a number of countries using the day to recognize the end of slavery and to celebrate the culture and achievements of African Americans; and WHEREAS, Today, Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement as it is a time for reflection and rejoicing and a time for assessment, self-improvement, and planning for the future; and WHEREAS, Juneteenth symbolizes freedom, celebrates the abolishment of slavery, and reminds all Americans of the significant contributions of African Americans to our society; and WHEREAS, General Granger’s announcement called for “absolute equality,” we know that such a vision was far from complete back then, as it is today. We celebrate how far we have come and take stock of how far we must go; and WHEREAS, Juneteenth celebrates the significant role that African Americans have played in the history of the United States and how they have enriched society through their steadfast commitment to promoting unity and equality.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that I, Dan Romero, Mayor of the City of Hercules, on behalf of the entire City Council, do hereby recognize June 19, 2024, as Juneteenth, National Freedom Day, in the City of Hercules.
In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and cause the seal of the City of Hercules to be affixed this 11th day of June 2024. ________________________________
Dan Romero, Mayor