HR0385LRB102 18845 ECR 27559 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of slavery
3in the United States; the holiday commemorates June 19, 1865,
4which was when the last enslaved African Americans held in
5Confederate states were finally freed by the Union army; six
6months later, the adoption of the 13th Amendment officially
7abolished slavery in America; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Two years after learning about the holiday while
9visiting family, Tommy Meeks established a Juneteenth
10Celebration in Rockford in 1990; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Tommy Meeks has engaged in partnership and
12collaboration to expand the reach of his Juneteenth
13Celebration and has thereby increased cultural and historical
14competence throughout Rockford and the surrounding
15communities; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Tommy Meeks, as a community leader and through
17his Juneteenth Celebrations, has embraced the sole mission to
18promote and cultivate knowledge and appreciation of African
19American history; and
 
20    WHEREAS, The year 2021 marks the 1st year that Juneteenth
21will be an official State Holiday in Illinois; and
 

 

 

HR0385- 2 -LRB102 18845 ECR 27559 r

1    WHEREAS, The year 2021 marks the 31st year of the Rockford
2Juneteenth Celebration, which is the oldest known Juneteenth
3Celebration in Illinois; therefore, be it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
5HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
6we commend Tommy Meeks for his dedication for the past 31 years
7to the promotion of Juneteenth and its importance to the
8history of our nation.