Proclamation
JUNETEENTH
WHEREAS, June 19 th is observed as Juneteenth, a nationally recognized day that celebrates the culture, heritage and perseverance of Black and African American people;
WHEREAS, Juneteenth commemorates the country’s second independence day. On June 19, 1865, Union Army General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced that the state’s 25,000 enslaved people were freed by executive decree, marking the effective end to slavery in the United States; and
WHEREAS, this was two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863; and
WHEREAS, Constitutional amendments passed between 1865 and 1870 profoundly change d the legal status of those once enslaved. The T hirteenth Amendment abolished slavery , the F ourteenth Amendment conferred citizenship upon those once enslaved and guarantees equal protection under the law, and the Fifteenth Amendment enfranchised men once held in bondage; and
WHEREAS, today, Juneteenth celebrates Black and African American people’s freedom and achievement s, and encourages everyone to reflect, learn about , and honor the rich diversity of our nation and the ongoing movement towards equity and belonging; and
WHEREAS, communities across the Bay Area will be hosting cultural events including food and vendor festivals, music and dance performances, and parades.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ed Lauing, Mayor of the City of Palo Alto on behalf of the entire City Council, do hereby proclaim and celebrate June 19th as Juneteenth, and call upon our community to reaffirm our commitment to eradicating hate, racism, and inequity and continuing the work of justice and hope.
PRESENTED: June 17, 2025
__________________________
Ed Lauing
Mayor