NATIONAL JUNETEENTH OBSERVANCE FOUNDATION
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Chairman
P.O. Box 269
Belzoni, Mississippi 39038
662-247-3364 662-247-4767 Fax
www.Juneteenth.us www.19thofJune.com
May 2, 2009
U.S. Senate
U.S. Capitol Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3121
U.S. House of Representatives
U.S. Capitol Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-224-3121
Dear Members of Congress:
We cordially invite you to attend the annual Congressional Juneteenth Reception during the week of the WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance, June 17-21, 2009. The reception will most likely be scheduled for Thursday, June 18, 2009, beginning at 12:00noon. The host of the reception is Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Chairman of our National Juneteenth Congressional Committee.
Juneteenth, or the "19th of June", recognizes June 19, 1865, in Galveston, TX, when Union General Gordon Granger announced freedom for all slaves in the Southwest, the last major geographic vestige of slavery in the United States following the end of the Civil War. This occurred more than two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln. Upon the reading of General Order #3 by General Granger, the former slaves celebrated jubilantly, establishing America's second Independence Day Celebration and the oldest African-American holiday observance.
Juneteenth is now recognized as a state holiday or state holiday observance in 30 states and the District of Columbia. Many more states will be passing Juneteenth holiday observance legislation in 2010. The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives first officially recognized Juneteenth in 1997, during the 105th Congress, and continues to pass similar legislation every year.
We would like for Juneteenth to be established as a national holiday observance similar to Flag Day or Patriot Day in 2009. We have requested that President Barack Obama, who has been a great supporter of Juneteenth as an Illinois State Senator and U.S. Senator, issue a Presidential Proclamation to establish Juneteenth as a national holiday observance.
It is our understanding that the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives must then vote to suspend their rules against the official recognition of a holiday or commemorative day in order to introduce legislation to officially recognize Juneteenth as a national
holiday observance in support of the Presidential Proclamation.
Again, this is our understanding that this was the same procedure that was done to officially recognize Patriot Day as a national holiday observance.
We are also working with members of the U.S. Senate to support the passage of a Senate Apology For Slavery. It was wonderful to learn of the U.S. House of Representatives Apology For Slavery and Jim Crow sponsored by Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) earlier last year. We hope to have the legislation passed during the week of Juneteenth 2009.
Our first National Day of Reconciliation and Healing From the Legacy of Enslavement was the result of the second historic introduction of Congressional Apology For Slavery legislation by former Congressman Tony Hall (D-OH) on Juneteenth, the "19th of June", 2000. As the leader of the "Modern Juneteenth Movement" in America, I was honored to work closely with Congressman Hall on the apology as an important step toward racial healing and reconciliation in America. Since that time, several states have passed apology for slavery legislation including Virginia, Alabama, North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and Florida.
We hope that you will support our efforts to establish Juneteenth as a national holiday observance and the U.S. Senate Apology For Slavery.
We also invite you to also attend the National Juneteenth Prayer Breakfast and the National Juneteenth Black Holocaust “Maafa” Memorial Service which is part of the annual National Day of Reconciliation and Healing From the Legacy of Enslavement, held annually on the “3rd Friday in June”, this year on Juneteenth, the "19th of June", 2009. The prayer breakfast begins at 8:30am, at the National Press Club, 529 14th Street, N.W., 14th Floor and the worship service at 11:30am, at Lincoln Park United Methodist Church, Rev. Harold D. Lewis, Pastor, 1301 North Carolina Avenue, N.E., in Washington, DC.
Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. We look forward to your continued participation and support.
Sincerely,
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D.
Founder & Chairman
National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)
National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC)
National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign
enclosures
Informational Flyer – 2009 National Day of Reconciliation and Healing From the Legacy of Enslavement
Calendar of Events – 2009 WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance
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