On June 11, the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a proclamation recognizing Juneteenth as a Black Hawk County work holiday, and urged the community to learn more about the significance of the holiday. See the full text of the proclamation in this post, and images of the signed proclamation below.
JUNETEENTH PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, The United States of America is made up of people from all over the world, who are declared equal not only in freedom but also in justice, both of which are essential for a healthy civilization; and
WHEREAS, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, providing that all persons held as slaves in areas in rebellion against the United States “are, and henceforward shall be free;” paving the way for the passage of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which completely abolished slavery in the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas—nearly 2 ½ years later—Major General Gordon Granger and Union Army troops enforced the Emancipation Proclamation and freed the last enslaved Black Americans in the Confederacy; and
WHEREAS, the holiday "JUNETEENTH" combines the words June and Nineteenth, and has been celebrated by Black Americans for over 150 years; and
WHEREAS, on January 1, 1980, Juneteenth became an official Texas state holiday; and
WHEREAS, on April 2, 2002, Juneteenth became a state holiday in Iowa, to be celebrated annually; and
WHEREAS, Juneteenth became the eleventh American Federal Holiday on June 17, 2021, the first holiday to obtain legal observance since Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; and
WHEREAS, all 50 states and the District of Columbia now recognize Juneteenth as a holiday or observance, and at least 22 states and the District of Columbia have designated Juneteenth as a permanent paid and/or legal holiday through legislation or executive action; and
WHEREAS, Black Hawk County has proportionally the largest Black population of all Iowa Counties, and
WHEREAS, the addition of the Juneteenth holiday to the Black Hawk County calendar allows county staff, and the community, the opportunity to celebrate human freedom, reflect on the grievous legacy of slavery, and dedicate ourselves to eliminating all forms of racism that plague our society, as we strive to deliver the full promise of freedom and equality for all Americans; and
WHEREAS, in Black Hawk County, Juneteenth has been uplifted and celebrated on the third Saturday in June for 29 years through efforts of local social justice organizations, and this year will take place on June 15 at Sullivan Park in Waterloo, along with other community celebrations recognizing the holiday throughout the county; NOW THEREFORE
BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of Black Hawk County does hereby recognize JUNETEENTH as a Black Hawk County work holiday on June 19 and urges the community to become more aware of the significance of this celebration and recognition of African American history in our nation and our county.
Signed this 11th day of June 2024
