Bill Text: CA SR81 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Enrolled

California Senate Resolution 81 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relative to Juneteenth Day celebrations

Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2016-06-23 - Read. Adopted. (Ayes 35. Noes 0. Page 4508.) [SR81 Detail]

Download: California-2015-SR81-Enrolled.html

BILL NUMBER: SR 81	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	ADOPTED IN SENATE  JUNE 23, 2016
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 15, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Senators Hall, Mitchell, and Huff

                        JUNE 15, 2016

   Relative to Juneteenth Day celebrations


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
             HOUSE OR SENATE RESOLUTIONS DO NOT CONTAIN A DIGEST



   WHEREAS, The state of Texas is widely considered the first state
to begin Juneteenth celebrations. Informal observances have taken
place there for over a century, and it has been an official state
holiday in Texas since 1980. Thirty-nine states, including California
since 2003, and the District of Columbia have recognized Juneteenth
as either a state holiday or a state holiday observance; and
   WHEREAS, Though President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation
Proclamation on September 22, 1862, to become effective January 1,
1863, it had minimal immediate effect on most slaves' day-to-day
lives, particularly in the Confederate States of America; and
   WHEREAS, Texas, as a part of the Confederacy, was resistant to the
Emancipation Proclamation. But on June 18, 1865, Union troops
arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the state and
enforce the emancipation of its slaves. Former slaves in Galveston
rejoiced in the streets with jubilant celebrations. The following
day, June 19th, became known as "Juneteenth," a name derived from a
portmanteau of the words "June" and "nineteenth." Juneteenth
celebrations began in Texas the following year; and
   WHEREAS, For former slaves, the Juneteenth celebration was a time
for reassuring each other, praying, and gathering remaining family
members together. Juneteenth continued to be highly revered in Texas
decades later, with many former slaves and descendants making an
annual pilgrimage back to Galveston on this date; and
   WHEREAS, Juneteenth education and celebrations declined in America
in the early part of the 20th century. But the Civil Rights Movement
of the 1950s and 1960s saw a resurgence of interest in Juneteenth,
along with renewed community celebrations of the day; and
   WHEREAS, On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth became an official state
holiday in Texas through the efforts of Al Edwards, an African
American former member of the Texas House of Representatives. That
bill marked Juneteenth as the first emancipation celebration granted
official state recognition. Representative Edwards has since actively
sought to spread the observance of Juneteenth all across America;
and
   WHEREAS, In 1994, the era of the "Modern Juneteenth Movement"
began when a group of Juneteenth leaders from across the country
gathered in New Orleans, Louisiana, to work for greater national
recognition of Juneteenth; and
   WHEREAS, Today, Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom
and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in
some areas, a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers,
picnics, and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and
rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement, and for
planning the future; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate
encourages all Californians to join together in celebrating
Juneteenth; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Senate and the People of the State of
California recognize that the "Modern Juneteenth Movement" continues
to work to pass legislation in the United States Congress to
establish Juneteenth Independence Day as a National Day of
Observance; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.