Title
Special recognition of Juneteenth in Lake County.
Body
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
WHEREAS, Juneteenth, which also is 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 the day on June 19, 1865 when Federal troops led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced the end of the Civil War and signaled freedom for Texas’ 250,000 enslaved people; and
WHEREAS, although the Emancipation Proclamation came two and a half years earlier, many slave owners continued to hold slaves captive, so Juneteenth became a symbolic date representing African-American freedom; and
WHEREAS, Juneteenth is recognized across the country as a state holiday or ceremonial holiday through community events including parades, prayer gatherings, historical and cultural readings and music performances; and
WHEREAS, Lake County joins the Nation to never forget those who suffered the evils of slavery and honor the spirit and contributions 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, the Lake County Board does hereby celebrate Juneteenth in Lake County and recognize a continued opportunity for residents to celebrate the culture and achievements of African Americans and to learn from the past and those experiences that have shaped our country.
DATED, at Waukegan, Illinois, on June 14, 2022.