LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 150th Anniversary Celebration
of Syracuse Juneteenth

WHEREAS, Juneteenth is the oldest-known celebration of the ending of
slavery; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the
150th Anniversary Celebration of Syracuse Juneteenth, a celebration of
Freedom, Realized; and
WHEREAS, Syracuse's 150th Anniversary Celebration of Juneteenth will
be feted on Saturday, June 13, 2015, with a free, family friendly day of
reflection and inspiration to be held in Clinton Square; there will be a
Kids Zone, an educational area, a food court, panel discussions, and
live entertainment; and
WHEREAS, This year marks the 150th Anniversary of celebrating June-
teenth which began on June 19, 1865, the date Union soldiers under the
command of Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas,
with the news that the Civil War had ended and that all slaves were
free; and
WHEREAS, One of General Granger's first orders was Order No. 3 which
was read aloud to the people of Texas and which stated: "The people of
Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Exec-
utive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an abso-
lute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters
and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes
that between employer and free laborer."; and
WHEREAS, Many of the newly-freed slaves stayed in their locations to
learn about the new employer/employee relationship between themselves
and their former masters, while others chose to reach family members in
other states, and still others chose to move to the Northern states; and
WHEREAS, Settling into new areas as free men and women brought on new
realities and challenges of establishing a heretofore non-existent
status for Black people in America; and
WHEREAS, The celebration of Juneteenth allowed freed slaves and their
descendants to recount the memories of that great day in 1865 when free-
dom was proclaimed, and also served as a release from the pressures of
settling into new territories; and
WHEREAS, Juneteenth has been known by a variety of names, including
"Jun-Jun," "Freedom Day," "Emancipation Day" and "Emancipation Cele-
bration," but regardless of what the day is called, it is a day to cele-
brate freedom; and
WHEREAS, Today, Juneteenth is enjoying a phenomenal growth rate within
communities and organizations throughout the country; institutions such
as the Smithsonian, the Henry Ford Museum and others have begun sponsor-
ing Juneteenth-centered activities; in recent years, a number of local
and national Juneteenth organizations have arisen to take their place
alongside older organizations, all with the same mission to promote and
cultivate knowledge and appreciation of African American history and
culture; and
WHEREAS, Juneteenth today, celebrates African American freedom and
achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect
for all cultures; as 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, The future of Juneteenth looks bright as the number of cities
and states creating Juneteenth committees continues to increase; respect

and appreciation for all of our differences grow out of exposure and
working together; and
WHEREAS, Getting involved and supporting Juneteenth celebrations
creates new bonds of friendship and understanding among us; this indeed,
brightens our future, and that is the Spirit of Juneteenth; now, there-
fore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 150th Anniversary Celebration of Syracuse Juneteenth;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Syracuse Juneteenth 2015 Committee.