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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Members of Lifeway Church in Dallas gathered |
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together on June 15, 2017, to promote cultural awareness and honor |
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diversity through the celebration of Juneteenth; and |
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WHEREAS, The oldest known observance commemorating the end of |
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slavery in the United States, Juneteenth specifically celebrates |
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the emancipation of African American slaves throughout Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, On June 19, 1865, Union Major General Gordon Granger |
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arrived in Galveston with federal troops to provide military |
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support for Reconstruction efforts and to enforce President Abraham |
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Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation; that same day, General |
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Granger read publicly his General Order No. 3, which proclaimed |
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that all slaves were undeniably free from that date onward and that |
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there would be "an absolute equality of rights and rights of |
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property between former masters and slaves"; and |
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WHEREAS, Held on June 19 of each year, the commemoration of |
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this momentous event became known as "Juneteenth," and celebrations |
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grew over the decades to include recitations of the Emancipation |
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Proclamation, readings by notable people, and such festive |
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activities as singing, parades, rodeos, street fairs, and cookouts; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Juneteenth has been observed as an official holiday |
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in Texas since 1980, when legislation introduced by African |
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American State Representative Al Edwards during the 1979 |
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legislative session took effect; with the adoption of that bill, |
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this special day became the first emancipation holiday in the |
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country to be granted official state recognition; and |
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WHEREAS, More than 150 years after emancipation was |
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proclaimed in Texas, Juneteenth continues to inspire gatherings |
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that honor the myriad achievements and immeasurable fortitude of |
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the African American community in the Lone Star State; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commemorate the 2017 |
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Juneteenth celebration at Lifeway Church and extend to all those |
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associated with the church sincere best wishes for the future; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Lifeway Church as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |