HomeMy WebLinkAbout22-093 RESOLUTION NO. 22-093
A RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MAY 20, 2022 AS "EMANCIPATION DAY",JUNE 1, 2022
THROUGH JULY 4, 2022 AS "JUNETEENTH SEASON OF FREEDOM"AND JUNE 19, 2022 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.The American Independence Day Movement, initiated by the Declaration of Independence and
July 4, 1776, did not include enslaved African Americans as they were not recognized as full
human beings. On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation
Proclamation, declaring that "all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a
State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then,
thenceforward,and forever free."On May 10, 1865,a month after the end of the Civil War, Union
Brigadier General Edward M. McCook arrived in Tallahassee, Florida to seize the city from
Confederate powers. On May 20, 1865, General McCook formally announced the Emancipation
Proclamation from the steps of the Knott House in Tallahassee, freeing enslaved African
Americans in Florida. Freedom from slavery was formally announced by Union General Gordon
Granger in Galveston,Texas on June 19, 1865 through the reading of General Order No. 3, to the
last group of slaves in bondage, creating America's 2nd Independence Day Celebration,
Juneteenth Independence Day, observed on June 19th as the oldest African-American holiday.
2. June 19th is the freedom forerunner to the 13th 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 105th Congress of the United States
passed Senate Joint Resolution 11 and House Joint Resolution 56 officially recognizing Juneteenth
Independence Day in America. 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.
3. Emancipation Day is traditionally celebrated on May 20th in Florida and provides an important
opportunity to celebrate and commemorate the achievements and contributions African
Americans have made, and will continue to make in Fort Pierce, the State of Florida and the
United States. 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 does hereby proclaim May 20, 2022 as"Emancipation Day",June 1, 2022 through
July 4, 2022 as "Juneteenth Season of Freedom" and June 19, 2022 as "Juneteenth Day" in St.
Lucie County, Florida.
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 17th day of May 2022.
ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BY:. LUCIF,�txNT•C�� -�_�
DEPUTY CLERK `S:C* •
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