Bill Text: NY J01753 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 19, 2019, as Juneteenth Day in the State of New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-04 - ADOPTED [J01753 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J01753-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 1753

BY: Senator PARKER

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        June 19, 2019, as Juneteenth Day in New York State

  WHEREAS,  Juneteenth  (short  for  "June  nineteenth")  is a holiday
commemorating this day, which marked the effective end of slavery in the
United States in the year of 1865 in Galveston, Texas; and

  WHEREAS, On that day, one of  General  Granger's  first  orders  was
Order No. 3 which was read aloud to the people of Texas and stated: "The
people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from
the  Executive  of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves
an absolute equity of rights and rights of property between masters  and
former  slaves,  and  the  connection  heretofore  existing between them
becomes that between employer and free laborer."; and

  WHEREAS, The celebration of  Juneteenth  allowed  freed  slaves  and
their descendants to recount the memories of that great day in 1865 when
freedom  was proclaimed, and also served as a release from the pressures
of settling into new territories; and

  WHEREAS, While Juneteenth is a time for celebration, it  is  also  a
time   for  reflection,  education,  and  self-improvement;  celebration
participants listen to elders recount the past, attend prayer  services,
and learn from educational speakers; and

  WHEREAS,  Juneteenth  today  celebrates African American freedom and
achievements while encouraging continuous self-development  and  respect
for all cultures; and

  WHEREAS,  It  takes  on  a  more national, symbolic, and even global
perspective, the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten  for  all  of
the  roots  tie  back  to this fertile soil from which a national day of
pride is growing; and

  WHEREAS, In 1980,  the  State  of  Texas  was  the  first  state  to
recognize  Juneteenth  as an official state holiday, through the efforts
of Al Edwards, an African American State Legislator; and

  WHEREAS,  In  1997,  Congress  recognized  June  19  as  "Juneteenth
Independence Day"; and

  WHEREAS,  National  Juneteenth  Observance  Foundation,  founded and
chaired by the Reverend Ronald Meyers, is committed to making Juneteenth
a federal holiday on a par with Flag and Patriot days; and

  WHEREAS, Juneteenth looks bright as the number of cities and  states
creating Juneteenth committees continues to increase; and

  WHEREAS,  46  states recognize Juneteenth and the states that do not
are Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota; and

  WHEREAS, Cities in New York that have  had  Juneteenth  celebrations
include   Albany,   Binghamton,  Bronx,  Brooklyn,  Buffalo,  Rochester,
Schenectady, Syracuse, Yonkers, etc.; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo  to  proclaim  June  19,  2019,  as
Juneteenth Day in New York State; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the  State  of
New York.