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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Galveston holds a special place in American history |
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as the birthplace of Juneteenth, the longstanding observance that |
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commemorates the end of slavery in Texas and, more generally, in the |
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United States as a whole; and |
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WHEREAS, Juneteenth stems from the events of June 19, 1865, |
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when the Union Army arrived in Galveston following the end of the |
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Civil War; in accordance with President Abraham Lincoln's |
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Emancipation Proclamation, General Gordon Granger issued General |
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Order No. 3, which proclaimed that all enslaved persons in Texas |
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were free and that there would be "an absolute equality of personal |
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rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves"; |
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during the months that followed, this news traveled across the |
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state from Galveston and was joyously received by the approximately |
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250,000 men, women, and children in Texas who had been living in |
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bondage; and |
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WHEREAS, The anniversary of this momentous event came to be |
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known as "Juneteenth," and it has since been marked with a variety |
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of festivities; during the 20th century, Juneteenth began growing |
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in popularity beyond Texas as celebrations spread to cities such as |
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Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota; in 1979, Texas |
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became the first state to make Juneteenth an official state |
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holiday, and Juneteenth National Independence Day, a federal |
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holiday, was established in 2021 by an act of Congress; and |
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WHEREAS, Juneteenth is observed in Galveston with an array of |
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special events, including a parade, an art exhibition, and a guided |
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tour to historic sites; in 2021, a public mural entitled Absolute |
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Equality was completed in downtown Galveston as an initiative of |
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the Juneteenth Legacy Project; spanning 5,000 square feet, the |
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vibrant and richly detailed mural by Reginald C. Adams depicts the |
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origins of Juneteenth and the journey of Black Americans from |
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slavery to freedom; and |
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WHEREAS, Galveston's historical association with Juneteenth |
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has made the city an important destination for those looking to |
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reflect on a landmark moment for our nation and on the ideals of |
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freedom, equality, and justice that the holiday represents, and it |
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is indeed fitting that the city's seminal role in the Juneteenth |
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observance be officially honored; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas, |
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3rd Called Session, hereby designate Galveston as the official |
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Juneteenth Capital of Texas; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section |
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391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in effect |
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until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally |
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passed by the legislature. |