America Celebrates the 151st Year Anniversary of Juneteenth on June 19
Myers Urges President Obama & Congress Pass Legislation to Establish
Juneteenth Independence Day as a National Day of Observance.
(Washington, DC) – Leaders of the Campaign to Establish Juneteenth as a National Day of Observance will return to the nation’s capitol for the WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance, during the 151st year annivesary of Juneteenth in America. Scheduled for June 15-17, 2016, the Juneteenth Flag will certainly be flying at the nation’s capitol on the “19th of June”.
“We are hopeful that President Obama and the U.S. Congress will finally enact legislation to establish the ’19th of June’ on all calendars as America’s 2nd Independence Day,” states Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder and Chairman of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF). “We are not asking for a paid federal holiday, but a national day of observance, like Flag Day and Patriot Day.”
Juneteenth, or the “19th of June”, recognizes June 19, 1865, in Galveston, TX, when Union General Gordon Granger announced freedom for all slaves in the Southwest. Texas was the last state in rebellion to allow slavery following the end of the Civil War. This occurred more than two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln. Upon the reading of General Order #3 by General Granger, the former slaves celebrated jubilantly, establishing America’s second Independence Day Celebration and the oldest African American holiday observance.
Juneteenth is now recognized as a state holiday or state holiday observance in 45 states. In 2003, the District of Columbia passed legislation to recognize Juneteenth as a district holiday observance.
Since 1997, the U.S. Congress has unanimously passed legislation recognizing Juneteenth for several years. For example, in 2011, Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) sponsored H.R. 323 and Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) sponsored of S.R. 211, “Observing the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day“ in America.
In 2014 and 2015, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed S.J.R. recognizing the “19th of June” as Juneteenth Independence Day in America.
Dr. Myers is the leader of the campaign to make Juneteenth Independence Day a National Day of Observance, like Flag Day or Patriot Day. Founder & President of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) and the National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC), his efforts have resulted in the recognition of Juneteenth as a state holiday or state holiday observance in 43 states, the District of Columbia and the passage of legislation in the U.S. Congress to recognize the “19th of June” as Juneteenth Independence Day in America. Dr. Myers also established the National Juneteenth Medical Commission to address the health care needs of African Americans.
e-mail: JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com
web sites: www.NationalJuneteenth.com
