1999 Assembly Resolution 29
ENGROSSED RESOLUTION
Relating to: supporting and urging support for the WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH 2000 NATIONAL HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE, on the National Mall, Lincoln Memorial and U.S. capital grounds, scheduled for Saturday, June 17, 2000.
Whereas, more than 130 years old, Juneteenth National Freedom Day is the oldest and only African-American holiday observance in the United States, which is also known as "Emancipation Day," "Emancipation Celebration," "Freedom Day," "Jun-Jun" and "Juneteenth"; and
Whereas, 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
Whereas, approximately 11,500,000 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 submission to slavery for more than 200 years after arrival in the United States; and
Whereas, Juneteenth commemorates the day on which freedom was proclaimed to all slaves in the South by Union General Granger, on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, more than 2.5 years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln; and
Whereas, 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
Whereas, this reality is particularly underscored by the fact that it was in the 1st Session of the 105th Congress, via the bipartisan cooperation of 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
Whereas, 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; and
Whereas, 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; and
Whereas, "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
Whereas, 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, restoration and justice; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, That the members of the Wisconsin assembly support this historic recognition and encourage participation of our members, families and communities in the "officially recognized" WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH 2000 NATIONAL HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE, on the National Mall, Lincoln Memorial and U.S. capital grounds, scheduled for Saturday, June 17, 2000, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., which will be followed by a Sunday evening Juneteenth Fathers' Day Benefit Concert honoring African-American Fathers, and a Monday, June 19, 2000, noon rally in support of National Juneteenth Independence Day holiday legislation and a series of evening Juneteenth prayer and praise worship services in churches and houses of worship throughout the Washington, D.C., area and the country; and, be it further
Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide a copy of this resolution to the president and secretary of the U.S. senate, to the speaker and clerk of the U.S. house of representatives and to each member of the congressional delegation from this state attesting the adoption of this resolution by the 1999 assembly of the state of Wisconsin.
