HomeMy WebLinkAbout14-078RESOLUTION NO. 14-078
A RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING JUNE 1, 2014 THROUGH JULY 4, 2014 AS "JUNETEENTH SEASON
OF FREEDOM" AND JUNE 19, 2014, AS "JUNETEENTH DAY" IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, has made the
following determinations:
1. American's Independence Day Movement, initiated by the Declaration of Independence and
the 4`h of July,1776, did not include enslaved African-Americans as they were not recognized
as full human beings. Freedom from slavery was initiated by the enforcement of the
Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, and formally announced by Union General
Gordon Granger in Galveston, Texas on the 19`h of June,1865 through the reading of General
Order No. 3, to the last group of slaves in bondage, creating America's 2"d Independence Day
Celebration, Juneteenth Independence Day, observed on the 19`h of June as the oldest
African-American holiday.
2. The 19`h of June is the freedom forerunner to the 13`h Amendment, which implemented
freedom for all slaves in the United States, Juneteenth Independence Day completes the
cycle of Independence Day Celebrations in America. In 1997, the 105`h Congress of the
United States passed Senate Joint Resolution 11 and House Joint Resolution 56 officially
recognizing Juneteenth Independence Day in America; and
3. The Juneteenth celebration commemorates the emancipation of Southern Blacks on June
19, 1865, two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The
memory of all those who moved from slavery to freedom remains as a lesson for all
Americans regardless of their background, race or religion; and
4. The Florida legislature issued an apology on March 26, 2008, expressing profound regret for
the shameful history of enslaving black people and passing laws that sanctioned involuntary
servitude upon generations of African slaves.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie
County, Florida:
1. This Board does hereby proclaim June 1, 2014 through July 4, 2014 as "JUNETEENTH
SEASON OF FREEDOM" in St. Lucie County, Florida.
2. This Board does hereby further proclaim June 19, 2014, as "JUNETEENTH DAY" in St. Lucie
County, Florida for all Americans as a time to learn more about our common past and to
better understand the experiences that have shaped our Nation.
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 3`d day of June 2014.
ATTEST:
DEPUTY CLERK
BOARD OF LINTY 0~171MISS10
ST. LINTY, ORID~A
BYE {~.y~,,,G .~ t .r
CHAIR
APPROV D AS T G~ O M
CORRECI~ ~~~~