Senate Resolution No. 2321

BY: Senator PARKER

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
June 19, 2024, as Juneteenth Day in the State of New
York

WHEREAS, Juneteenth (short for "June nineteenth") is a holiday
commemorating this day, which marked the effective end of slavery in the
United States in the year of 1865 in Galveston, Texas; and

WHEREAS, On that day, one of General Granger's first orders was
Order No. 3 which was read aloud to the people of Texas and stated: "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 equity of rights and rights of property between masters and
former slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them
becomes that between employer and free laborer."; and

WHEREAS, The celebration of Juneteenth allowed freed slaves and
their descendants to recount the memories of that great day in 1865 when
freedom was proclaimed, and also served as a release from the pressures
of settling into new territories; and

WHEREAS, While Juneteenth is a time for celebration, it is also a
time for reflection, education, and self-improvement; celebration
participants listen to elders recount the past, attend prayer services,
and learn from educational speakers; and

WHEREAS, Today, Juneteenth celebrates African American freedom and
achievements while encouraging continuous self-development and respect
for all cultures; and

WHEREAS, It takes on a more national, symbolic, and even global
perspective; the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten for all of
the roots tie back to this fertile soil from which a national day of
pride is growing; and

WHEREAS, In 1980, the State of Texas was the first state to
recognize Juneteenth as an official state holiday, through the efforts
of Al Edwards, an African American State Legislator; and

WHEREAS, In 1997, Congress recognized June 19 as "Juneteenth
Independence Day"; and

WHEREAS, The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, founded and
chaired by the Reverend Ronald Meyers, was committed to making
Juneteenth a federal holiday on par with Flag and Patriot days; on June
17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National
Independence Day Act, making Juneteenth Day a federal holiday for the
first time in our Nation's history; and

WHEREAS, Juneteenth looks bright as the number of cities and states
creating Juneteenth committees continues to increase; and

WHEREAS, Cities in New York that have had Juneteenth celebrations
include Albany, Binghamton, Bronx, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Rochester,
Schenectady, Syracuse, and Yonkers, with more celebrating each year;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 19, 2024, as
Juneteenth Day in New York State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.