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78R19146 MMS-D

By:  Edwards                                                      H.R. No. 1865



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, For more than 100 years, Texans have celebrated June 
19 as Emancipation Day, or "Juneteenth," for it was on that date in 
1865 that African American slaves in this state finally gained the 
freedom nominally conferred on them by the Emancipation 
Proclamation; and
	WHEREAS, Recognizing the significance this date holds for all 
Texans, the 66th Texas Legislature approved a bill, authored by 
Representative Al Edwards, designating June 19 as an official state 
holiday; and
	WHEREAS, In 1997, at the instigation of Representative 
Edwards, the 75th Texas Legislature created the Texas Emancipation 
Juneteenth Cultural and Historical Commission, whose objectives 
were to coordinate state and local activities relating to 
Juneteenth and to arrange for the erection of a memorial monument; 
when completed, this monument will be installed on the southwest 
grounds of the State Capitol; Representative Edwards has also 
worked to ensure that emancipation and Juneteenth are appropriately 
handled in school textbooks; and
	WHEREAS, In coming together to celebrate the end of slavery 
in the Lone Star State, we honor the countless individuals who 
endured the rigors of that terrible system and pay tribute to their 
perseverance and achievements; their labor, as agricultural 
workers, mechanics, and artisans, played an immeasurable role in 
the development of this state, and we are all the beneficiaries of 
their toil; on Juneteenth we honor, moreover, the myriad 
accomplishments of African Americans since freedom came, and we 
acknowledge the continuing struggle for social justice, a mighty 
work deserving the efforts of all Texans of goodwill; now, 
therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby recognize the June 1, 2003, opening ceremony of 
Juneteenth 2003 and encourage all Texans to join in Juneteenth 
celebrations.