||| FROM RAYMONT C. JACKSON, MAYOR, TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR |||
WHEREAS, on New Year’s Day ot 1863, using his war powers as President, Abraham
Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all persons held as slaves
within rebellious states “are, and henceforward, shall be free;” and
WHEREAS, word about the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation was delayed in
reaching the authorities and African-Americans in the South and Southwestern United
States. On June 19, 1865, almost 2 1⁄2 years later, Major General Gordon Granger arrived
in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of both the Civil War and slavery, with this
message:
“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the
Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality
of personal rights and rights of property, between former masters and slaves and the
connection heretofore existing between them, becomes that between employer and
hired labor. The Freedmen are advised to remain at their present homes and work
for wages; and
WHEREAS, those Black Texans began the celebration of Juneteenth, with community
events such as parades, cookouts, prayer gatherings, musical performances and historical
cultural readings; some communities purchased land for Juneteenth celebrations, such
as Emancipation Park in Houston, TX; and as freed families emigrated from Texas to other
parts of the United States, they carried the Juneteenth celebration with them; and
WHEREAS, Juneteenth has been celebrated since 1866, mostly by Black Americans; yet
it’s a day that’s worthy of celebration by every American, as it represents a critical turning
point in American history, not just Black history. It is the day that we as a people finally
began to live up to one of the greatest principles we professed: a nation devoted to liberty
for all; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Friday Harbor fully recognizes the intrinsic value of celebrating
Juneteenth. Its observance promotes social justice for the sake of our collective prosperity
and acknowledges that there remains much work to be done to address equal access to
opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be marginalized.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Raymont C. Jackson, by the virtue of the authority vested in me as
Mayor, do herby proclaim June 19, 2024, as
Juneteenth Day of Observance
FURTHER, I encourage all citizens to promote harmony and equality, respect the rights
of all people, and embrace the cultural diversity of our Town.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my
hand and caused the Seal of the Town of
Friday Harbor to be affixed this 6th day of
June, 2024.
Raymont C. Jackson, Mayor
Juneteenth – pretty cool!