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In support of the Annual WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance and National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign
 for more than 143 years, Juneteenth
National Freedom Day continues to be the most recognized
African-American holiday observance in the United States. Also known as
"Emancipation Day", "Emancipation Celebration", "Freedom Day",
"Jun-Jun", "Juneteenth Independence Day" and "Juneteenth." Juneteenth
National Freedom Day commemorates the survival, due to God given
strength and determination, of African-Americans, who were first
brought to this country stacked in the bottom of slave ships in a month
long journey across the Atlantic Ocean known as the "Middle Passage";
and
approximately eleven and one-half million African-Americans survived
the voyage to the New World, the number that died is likely greater,
only to be subjected to whipping, castration, branding, rape, tearing
apart of families and forced to submit to slavery for more than 200
years after arrival in the United States; and
Juneteenth
commemorates the day freedom was proclaimed to all slaves in the south
by Union General Granger, on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, more
than two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation
Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln. For the first time, in over
130 years of the annual celebration, Juneteenth has finally been "officially recognized" as Juneteenth Independence Day in America by the President and Congress of the United States; and
this reality is particularly underscored by the fact that it was in the
1st session of the 105th Congress via the bipartisan cooperation of the
Former Congresswoman Barbara Rose-Collins (D-Michigan), Former Senator
Carol Mosely-Braun (D-Illinois), Congressman J.C. Watts (R-Oklahoma),
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Georgia), Senate Majority Leader
Trent Lott (R-Mississippi) and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle
(D-South Dakota), that Senate Joint Resolution 11 and House Joint Resolution 56 were successfully shepherded through both Houses of Congress, in a successful effort to officially recognize Juneteenth as the Independence Day Observance of Americans of African descent in 1997; and
Americans of all colors, creeds, cultures, religions and countries-of-origin, share in a common love of and respect for "freedom", as well as a determination to protect their right to freedom through democratic institutions, by which the "tenets-of-freedom" are guaranteed and protected. The "19th of June" or Juneteenth Independence Day, along with the "4th of July", completes the "cycle of freedom" for America's Independence Day observances. "Until All are Free, None are Free"
is an oft repeated maxim that can be used to highlight the significance
of the end of the era of slavery in the United States; and
the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation is sponsoring the premier celebration, concert, worship services and campaign to commemorate America's 2nd Independence Day Observance, the "19th of June", as one which completes the cycle of America's 18th century Independence Movement, initiated with the "4th of July", 1776 "Declaration of Independence" and to recognize this country's movement towards a "One America", advanced by a sincere dialogue of the realization of what Juneteenth historically means to all Americans, promoting racial healing, reconciliation, restoration and justice, through the National Day of Reconciliation and Healing From the Legacy of Slavery and the National Juneteenth Black Holocaust "Maafa" Memorial Service; and
Be It Resolved, that ___________________________________________________________
hereby adopts this resolution in support of the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign and encourages participation of our members, families and communities in the Annual WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance, on the National Mall, Lincoln Memorial and US Capital, during the week of the "19th of June" in Washington, DC.
Passed this: _____ Day of ____________________ , 2008
Seal
Attest: __________________________________
Title: ____________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________
City: ______________________________________________________
State: _________________________
Print Resolution, Sign and Mail To:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 25000
Fax: 202-456-2461
e-mail: president@whitehouse.gov
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