Lacey City Council is encouraging community members to join the celebrations commemorating Juneteenth Day.
During the public meeting on Thursday, June 1, all the council members joined together to read a two-page proclamation for Juneteenth.
“Juneteenth is a day of profound significance celebrating the emancipation of slavery and a day that reminds us of our incredible capacity to heal, hope, and emerge from our darkest moments with purpose, resolve and unity,” the proclamation read.
The council encouraged the residents to attend a celebration at the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey on June 17, Saturday.
The celebration will feature a community-wide barbecue hosted by the Fred U. Harris Lodge #70 of Prince Hall Freemasons.
President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, which paved the way for the abolishment of slavery in the country. On June 19, 1865, union soldiers freed all the remaining enslaved people in Texas.
Formerly enslaved Texans began the celebration of Juneteenth the following year with community parades, cookouts, community gatherings and musical performances.
2 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Claire
June 19th is a politically contrived occurrence. Lincoln legally abolished slavery, be they black, white, brown or otherwise. Slave ownership was common at the time, in the Colonies or other countries. Thanks is to Abraham Lincoln for making slave ownership illegal in America.
Tuesday, June 6, 2023 Report this
WayTooOld
@Claire - By that reasoning, why do we celebrate July 4th? We already thank George Washington on his birthday, plus or minus a few days to coincide with a Monday or Friday.
Those of us who were freed from British rule by our Declaration of Independence celebrate that day. I don’t see why it’s not appropriate for others to celebrate being freed.
Wednesday, June 7, 2023 Report this