South Mecklenburg News

WHEREAS, Juneteenth is often referred to as our country’s second Independence Day and has long been celebrated among the African American community, its historical significance has largely been omitted from educational curricula, making it relatively unknown to the wider population, and

WHEREAS, on September 22, 1862, then Union President Abraham Lincoln issued, and later made effective and signed on January 1, 1863 the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the freedom of slaves in Confederate states which rebelled against the Union, tied slavery to the Civil War and allowed Blacks to fight on behalf of the Union; and

WHEREAS, on June 19, 1865, the news of the Emancipation Proclamation and its impact was presented to the enslaved people of Galveston Bay, Texas, informing them of their freedom; and

WHEREAS, on December 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was ratified, thus ending slavery and non-conditional servitude in the United States; and

WHEREAS, we honor June 19th, now known as the portmanteau Juneteenth as the day we celebrate the end of slavery in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Juneteenth has evolved into a way to pay homage to ancestors and celebrate Black culture, liberation, and the achievements of Black Americans. This holiday also presents a powerful opportunity for critical reflection, social action, and examination of our progress towards racial equity and justice; and

WHEREAS, we pledge to continue our efforts to lift up the importance and history of Juneteenth and work tirelessly to root out institutional racism wherever it exists and advance equity and inclusion for all members of our community; and

WHEREAS, we call upon all peoples to join us in celebration as we use this freedom from these slaveries to exercise our minds to build, hearts to love, words to encourage, and hands to heal.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, I, Brad Simmons, Mayor of the Town of Mint Hill, North Carolina do hereby proclaim June 19, 2022, as

JUNETEENTH

and call upon our citizens to join us in celebration of freedom from physical, mental, emotional, financial, ethical, moralistic slavery and encourage the celebration of this freedom not just on June 19th, but every day

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