CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY FOURTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-20-69 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Pat Davis, Diane G. Gibson
RESOLUTION
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Establishing Policy For The Recognition Of Juneteenth In The City Of Albuquerque (Davis, Gibson)
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ESTABLISHING POLICY FOR THE RECOGNITION OF JUNETEENTH IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE.
WHEREAS, on June 19th, 1865 Major General Granger proclaimed to troops and those convened in Galveston, Texas, through General Order Number 3, that the Civil War had ended and that pursuant to President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, that all enslaved persons were free and should enjoy "an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property"; and
WHEREAS, one year later, in 1866, the State of Texas celebrated the first Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day and Black Independence Day, and forty states and the District of Columbia have since followed to declare Juneteenth and official day of observance; and
WHEREAS, in 2006 the New Mexico State Legislature established Juneteenth Freedom Day in New Mexico to be commemorated on the third Saturday in June of each year and be observed by "reflecting on the history of African-American slavery in the United States... and recognizing the importance of Americans of African descent as American citizens and New Mexico residents"; and
WHEREAS, Juneteenth gives each American, including all residents of the City of Albuquerque, the opportunity to reflect on the legacy of slavery and discrimination in our society and gives us an opportunity to recommit to the ideals of absolute equality in personal and property rights embodied in the General Order Number 3; and
WHEREAS, the City honors, respects, and supports organizations, organizers, and individuals advocating for equity and social justice for African Americans, including the Black Lives Matter movement.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY ...
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