Office of the City Clerk - Record #: R2020-458

• Record #: R2020-458
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Adopted
• Intro date: 6/17/2020
• Final action: 6/17/2020
• Title: Celebration of "Juneteenth Day" on June 19, 2020 in Chicago to recognize African Americans freedom from slavery
• Sponsors: Lightfoot, Lori E. , Hadden, Maria E. , Hopkins, Brian , Dowell, Pat, King, Sophia D., Hairston, Leslie A., Harris, Michelle A., Beale, Anthony, Coleman, Stephanie D. , Moore, David H., Curtis, Derrick G., Taylor, Jeanette B. , Brookins, Jr., Howard, Scott, Jr. Michael, Burnett, Jr., Walter, Ervin, Jason C., Taliaferro, Chris, Mitts, Emma, Martin, Matthew J. , Osterman, Harry, Sawyer, Roderick T., Mitchell, Gregory I., Gardiner, James M.

Date	Journal Page Number	Action By	Action	Result
6/17/2020		City Council	Rules Suspended - Immediate Consideration
6/17/2020	17797	City Council	Adopted	Pass

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OT CHICAGO
LORI F. LIGHTFOOT
June 17,2020










TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO


Ladies and Gentlemen:

I transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Hadden, Hopkins, Dowcll, King, Hairston, Sawyer, Mitchell, Harris, Beale, Coleman, Moore, Curtis, Brookins, Taylor, Scott, Burnett, Ervin, Taliaferro, Mitts, Martin and Osterman a resolution celebrating "Juneteenth."

Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.


Very truly your:

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Juneteenth is the oldest recognized celebration observing the freedom of African-Americans from slavery in the United States. Juneteenth is a historic milestone reminding Americans of the triumph of the human spirit over the harshness of slavery and the basic civil right of freedom and equality for all; and

WHEREAS, The celebration honors those 11 Vz million African-Americans who survived, in chains, the voyage to the Americas as well as the millions that did not survive. For more than 200 years, the enslaved were stripped of their humanity by forced family separation, rape, branding, whipping, mutilation, and death; and
WHEREAS, The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 1863, but it had minimal immediate effect on the majority of enslaved people who remained in captivity and oppression by slave owners; and

WHEREAS, On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Confederate-controlled Texas to take possession of the state and to enforce the emancipation of enslaved people throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, Two years, five months, and eighteen days after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, the last of those enslaved within the borders of the United States were freed; and
WHEREAS, The word "Juneteenth" became the name for the joyous celebration of freedom from slavery as a result of the words "June Nineteenth" combined together...