Full Text of HR1111 97th General Assembly
HR1111 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration | 3 | | commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States; and
| 4 | | WHEREAS, The mission of the State of Illinois Juneteenth | 5 | | Committee reads: To promote and cultivate knowledge and | 6 | | appreciation of African-American history and culture with a | 7 | | focus on education and self-improvement; and
| 8 | | WHEREAS, It was on June 19, 1865, two-and-a-half years | 9 | | after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, that | 10 | | Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the | 11 | | war had ended and that the enslaved were now free; and
| 12 | | WHEREAS, As freed slaves left plantations and moved to | 13 | | reunite with family members in other states, they encountered a | 14 | | new set of challenges as free men and women; and
| 15 | | WHEREAS, Recounting the memories of that great day in June | 16 | | of 1865 and its festivities would serve as motivation and | 17 | | relief from the growing pressures encountered in their new | 18 | | homes; and
| 19 | | WHEREAS, The celebration of June 19th was coined | 20 | | "Juneteenth" and grew with more participation and became a time |
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| 1 | | for reassuring one another, for praying, and for gathering | 2 | | family members; and
| 3 | | WHEREAS, A range of activities were provided for | 4 | | entertainment at early Juneteenth celebrations, many of which | 5 | | continue today; rodeos, fishing, barbecuing, and baseball are | 6 | | just a few of the typical activities that may be held today; | 7 | | and
| 8 | | WHEREAS, Juneteenth also focuses on education and | 9 | | self-improvement; guest speakers are often brought in and | 10 | | elders are called upon to recount the events of the past; | 11 | | prayer services are often also a major part of the | 12 | | celebrations; and | 13 | | WHEREAS, Over the last few decades, Juneteenth has | 14 | | continued to enjoy a growing and healthy interest from | 15 | | communities and organizations throughout the country, all with | 16 | | the mission to promote and cultivate knowledge and appreciation | 17 | | of African-American history and culture; and
| 18 | | WHEREAS, Today, Juneteenth celebrates African-American | 19 | | freedom while encouraging self-development and respect for all | 20 | | cultures; therefore, be it
| 21 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE |
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| 1 | | NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | 2 | | we proclaim June 19, 2012 as Juneteenth Day in the State of | 3 | | Illinois, in remembrance of the important events of June 19, | 4 | | 1865, and encourage all citizens to learn about the important | 5 | | contributions that African-Americans have made to our State, | 6 | | and to the nation as a whole; and be it further
| 7 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 8 | | delivered to the State of Illinois Juneteenth Committee as a | 9 | | symbol of our respect and esteem.
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