Bill Text: MI HB5064 | 2021-2022 | 101st Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Holidays: other; "Juneteenth"; designate as a holiday. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5063'21, HB 5065'21
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-3)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-06-22 - Bill Electronically Reproduced 06/17/2021 [HB5064 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2021-HB5064-Introduced.html
HOUSE BILL NO. 5064
A bill to designate June 19 of each year as Juneteenth in the state of Michigan.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 1. (1) The legislature recognizes that slavery existed in this country for more than 200 years. Millions of African-Americans were brought to this country as slaves stacked in the bottom of slave ships in a 5- to 12-week journey across the Atlantic Ocean known as the "middle passage". Although approximately 11-1/2 million African-Americans survived the voyage across the ocean, the number of those who died in the inhuman conditions of the passage is probably even higher. Once in this country, the captives were subjected to whipping, castration, branding, and rape. The legislature further observes that Congress passed the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution on January 31, 1865, abolishing slavery throughout the United States and its territories. In the following months, spontaneous celebrations erupted throughout the country when African-Americans learned of their freedom. News of the amendment reached the states at different times, and it was not until June 19, 1865 that the message of freedom reached the slaves in the western states. In honor of this great moment in the history of our nation, the legislature declares that June 19 of each year shall be known as "Juneteenth".
(2) The legislature encourages each individual in this state to pause on Juneteenth and reflect upon the strong survival instinct of the African-American slaves and the excitement and great joy with which African-Americans first celebrated the abolition of slavery. It is a reminder to all Americans of the status and importance of Americans of African descent as American citizens.
Enacting section 1. This act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 101st Legislature are enacted into law:
(a) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5063 (request no. 01358'21).
(b) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5065 (request no. 01957'21).