Title
Special recognition of Juneteenth in Lake County.
Body
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
WHEREAS, Juneteenth, which is also known as Emancipation Day and Black Independence Day, is a holiday to celebrate the end of slavery in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Juneteenth, which is short for June Nineteenth, marks June 19, 1865, the day when federal troops led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce the end of the Civil War and brought freedom to 250,000 enslaved people in Texas; and
WHEREAS, although the Emancipation Proclamation became law two and a half years earlier, many slave owners continued to hold the enslaved captive, making Juneteenth a symbolic date representing African American freedom; and
WHEREAS, Juneteenth is a holiday across the country, recognized through community events that include parades, prayer gatherings, historical, and cultural readings, and music performances; and
WHEREAS, Lake County joins the nation in never forgetting those who suffered the evils of slavery, and honoring the spirit and sacrifice of generations of African Americans who have contributed to the great story of the United States; and
WHEREAS, this holiday also serves as an occasion to reflect on and appreciate the precious freedoms that we all share.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RECOGNIZED, that this County Board of Lake County, Illinois does hereby celebrate Juneteenth in Lake County and advocates for residents to celebrate the culture and achievements of African Americans, learn about African American history, and the experiences of the enslaved that helped build our country.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on June 11, 2024.