Juneteenth/Freedom Day, End of Slavery in Texas – Year 1865

Celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation in Massachusetts – not known to be January 1, 1863. The only known photograph “related to” the event according to the Burns Archives. A crowd and a Union band pose. According to an old, since forgotten tradition, the honored person, a black man, is seated comfortably in a wheelbarrow.

 

1865

Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War was over, and that all remaining slaves in Texas were free – an event celebrated to this day as “Juneteenth.”

American and Juneteenth flags

The Story of Juneteenth

Juneteenth is the realization of the freedom legislations. It is the actualization of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th amendment.

June 19, 1862             Slavery outlawed in US territories by Congress, Chapter CXI.

June 19, 1863             Pennsylvania Abolitionist Society enforce the Emancipation order

June 19, 1863             Orders to authorize the formation of the USCT

June 19, 1865             U.S.C.T. 29^th & 31^st in Galveston, TX or General Order #3

June 14, 1866             Treaty with Five Civilized Tribes ended slavery in Oklahoma signed, the end of slavery in the nation

June 19, 1964             Civil Rights Act of 1964 survived an 83 day filibuster in Senate

June 19, 1968             Poor People’s Campaign Solidarity Day March, Washington D.C.

 

ALL THINGS JUNETEENTH – Proposed Legislation is below

Juneteenth National Freedom Day of Observance Proclamation

Whereas, Juneteenth National Freedom Day continues to be the most recognized African American holiday observance in the United States. Juneteenth National Freedom Day commemorates the first day of the celebration of freedom in America for all Americans, and the last known celebration for the ending of slavery; and

Whereas,the first record of the arrival of twenty Africans in Colonial America is that of an English ship—the White Lion—flying a Dutch Flag, that landed at Point Comfort, Virginia, in August of 1619, that led to the subsequent horrific enslavement of an entire race of people; and

Whereas, on June 19, 1862, the United States Congress abolished slavery in the Federal territories pursuant to the provisions of Chapter CXI—An Act to secure Freedom to all Persons within the Territories of the United States now existing, or which may at any time hereafter be formed or acquired by the United States; and

Whereas, June 19, 1863, is the date on which the Pennsylvania Abolitionist Society and the Union League of Philadelphia members gathered for a meeting to enforce President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation order in Pennsylvania; and

Whereas, Juneteenth also commemorates June 19, 1865 the day freedom was proclaimed to those enslaved in the south by issuance of General Order #3, in Galveston, Texas. The arrival in Galveston of the United States Colored Troops 25^th Corps, in route as a show of force on the Texas border from a French incursion, had to be providence, as they were led to deliver the news of freedom; and

Whereas, on June 14, 1866, slavery legally ended in all of America, the Oklahoma Territory, and the Federal Territories pursuant to four major treaties that were negotiated and formally signed – one treaty with the Cherokee, the Creek and the Seminole, and a combined treaty with the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations; and

Whereas, June 19, 1866, Juneteenth, became the first of many anniversaries and Juneteenth commemorations to be celebrated across America and around the world—from celebrations by the Mascogos descendants of Black Seminole slaves who fled to Mexico 170 years ago, to Juneteenth Family Week in Ghana; and

Whereas, nearly 179,000 black men—ten percent of the Union Army—served as soldiers in the U.S. Army, and another 19,000 served in the Navy. Nearly 40,000 black soldiers died over the course of the American Civil War. Black women, who could not formally join the Army, also served as nurses, spies, and scouts to aid in the pursuit of their freedom; and

Whereas, Americans of all colors, creeds, cultures, religions and countries-of-origin share in a common love of and respect for “freedom,” as well as a mutual determination to protect the right to freedom through democratic institutions established by the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the Constitution. These “tenets-of-freedom” were appropriated but not applied fairly to all Americans as a whole, however, the celebration of Juneteenth continued regardless; and

Whereas, the “Modern Juneteenth Movement” began when a group of Juneteenth leaders, including an ordained medical missionary to the poorest county in the country, gathered from across the country in New Orleans, Louisiana, to take on the challenge of advocating to and educating the world about the shrouded history surrounding unwanted migration to the Americas and enslavement of a people; and

Whereas, Juneteenth exemplifies the spirit of freedom for all, especially for those who, while making inventive, scientific, musical and medicinal contributions to America and the world; while serving in every one of America’s wars and conflicts, from the revolutionary war forward; and while exemplifying courage, patriotism and exhibiting patience with grace, did so in the face and in spite of draconian laws and severe inequality; and

Whereas, Juneteenth National Freedom Day, along with the 4th of July Independence Day, completes the “cycle of freedom” for America’s Independence Day observances. “None Are Free, Until All Are Free “ is an oft repeated maxim that highlights the significance of the end of the era of slavery in the United States.

Now, Therefore, be it resolved that the Congress of the United States of America, in recognition of the advocacy celebrating freedom from slavery as commemorated on June 19th of each year, and celebrated on the third Saturday in the month of June of each year, do hereby amend Chapter 1, Part A, Subtitle I, Title 36 of U. S. Code 36, to include Juneteenth as a National Day of Observance.

 

Be it further resolved, that the President is requested to each year issue a proclamation:

(1) designating June 19 as National Juneteenth Observance Day;

(2) calling on the people of the United States, especially the

educational community, to observe National Juneteenth Observance Day with appropriate ceremonies and educational activities;

(3)   calling on the people of the United States to observe National

Juneteenth Observance Day by flying The Juneteenth Flag, and praying; and

(4)   calling on United States Government officials to display the

Juneteenth Flag on all Government buildings on National Juneteenth Observance Day and on all Juneteenth Flag Display Days, including

(A) The First Monday in June, also known as Juneteenth Flag

Day,

(B) June 19, also known as Juneteenth, and

(C) The Third Saturday in June.

The Juneteenth Flag may also be displayed on Independence Day, July 4.

Deborah Evans
Vice Chair
Director of Communications
National Juneteenth Observance Foundation
888.509.NJOF (6563)x701
www.njof.org