06/18/2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ProcCamation 5" RECOGNIZING JUNE 19 AS JUNETEENTH -Whereas, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, a presidential proclamation and executive order, on January 1, 1863, changing the legal status of more than 3.5 million enslaved African Americans; and -Whereas, on June 19, 1865, General Gordan Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and read the Emancipation Proclamation, announcing freedom to all those enslaved in the state; and -Whereas, Juneteenth, derived from the combination of the month and day of June 19th, often is referred to as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day, Independence Day or Black Independence Day; and -Whereas, in 1979, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday, with other states following suit over the years; and -Whereas, Emancipation Day is celebrated at different times throughout the United States because of the time it took for Union generals to reach Southern states after the war ended; and -Whereas, General Edward McCook first read the Emancipation Proclamation in Tallahassee, Florida on May 20, 1865, eleven days after the end of the Civil War, and two years after the Proclamation was first issued by President Abraham Lincoln freeing those enslaved in the Southern States; and -Whereas, in 1997, Florida recognized May 20 as a statewide celebration of Emancipation. Now, 'Therefore, be it Proclaimedby the Boardof County Commissioners ofln&an River County, ,Florida, that the Board recognizes June 19 as Juneteenth, honoring the end of slavery in the United States and further proclaims May 20 as Emancipation Day for Florida in Indian River County marking the anniversary of when slavery became illegal in the State of Florida. Adopted this 18th day of June 2024. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA Susan Adams, Chairman Joseph E. Flescher, Vice Chairman Joseph H. Earman Deryl Loar Laura Moss