The Lacey City Council has officially proclaimed June 19 as National Juneteenth Day, joining a nationwide celebration that marks the end of slavery in the United States.
The proclamation acknowledges the historical and cultural significance of Juneteenth and honors the resilience and contributions of Black and African American communities.
“Our great country is made up of people from every nation on earth, who are declared equal not only in freedom but also in justice, both of which are essential for a healthy society,” the proclamation read.
It emphasizes the long-lasting impact of slavery, noting that Black and African American people "suffered unspeakable acts of violence and oppression, leaving a catastrophic and unrelenting legacy of trauma for generations of African Americans."
Juneteenth traces its origins to June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, led by Major General Gordon Granger and enforced the Emancipation Proclamation, which President Abraham Lincoln issued on January 1, 1863, declaring all remaining enslaved people in Texas free.
This day marked a pivotal moment in American history and led to the celebration of Juneteenth, beginning in 1866 with community events such as parades, cookouts, prayer gatherings, musical performances and historical cultural readings.
As the proclamation notes, "Juneteenth is now a worldwide celebration which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States of America."
The celebration, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day, serves as "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 city recognized the freemasons of Fred U. Harris Lodge #70 as having played a significant role in keeping the spirit of Juneteenth alive in the region.
For the past 42 years, the Lodge has hosted an annual community-wide barbecue in celebration of Juneteenth, drawing over 1,000 attendees from around the greater Thurston County area, the Pacific Northwest, and Canada.
This year, the lodge has invited the City of Lacey and other jurisdictions to join in the celebration on Saturday, June 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey.
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Honestyandrealityguy
Indentured servants began with whites from the Barbary Coast and blacks from Africa. A former black indentured servant, Anthony Johnson, worked off his servitude. He then had Indentured servants. One servant left and Johnson sued by stating he (a black man) owned the Indentured servant. He won. When a white Republican freed the slaves, thousands of black families owned slaves. The natives owned tens of thousands of slaves. The north did away with slavery after 10 years. Reparations? Would there ever have been slavery except for this black man? Hmmm. Amazing what I learned in another country.
Wednesday, June 12 Report this
KentReister
Honestyandrealityguy, the Atlantic slave trade began nearly 200 years before Anthony Johnson. Please don't try to sully this day of celebration with strange historical interpretations and misinformation.
Wednesday, June 12 Report this
Southsoundguy
Fake holiday.
Wednesday, June 12 Report this