Proclamation_Anniversary of Emanicaption Proclamation and JuneteenthP
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
0CLAMArTION
WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, with
an effective date of January 1, 1863, but it had minimal immediate effect in some of the
Confederate States of America until the end of the Civil War; and
WHEREAS, Juneteenth commemorates June 18 and 19, 1865 when Union General Gordon
Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the
state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves; and
WHEREAS, on June 19, 1865, legend has it while standing on the balcony of Galveston's Ashton
Villa, Granger read the contents of "General Order No. 3 ": "The people of Texas are
informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United
States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and
rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore
existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor "; and
WHEREAS, 39 states — including Iowa - and the District of Columbia recognize Juneteenth as either
a state holiday or state holiday observance; and
WHEREAS, Dubuque's Multicultural Family Center will be hosting a Juneteenth celebration this year
on June 15, 2013, from 4 -6 p.m. at Comisky Park.
NOW THEREFORE, 1, ROY D. BUOL, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, ON BEHALF
OF THE CITY COUNCIL, STAFF AND CITIZENS OF DUBUQUE DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE
THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION
AND THE 148TH ANNIVERSARY OF JUNETEENTH
IN THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, AND URGE RESIDENTS TO SUPPORT AND ENDORSE THE
PRACTICE AND POLICY OF EQUALITY AND FREEDOM FOR ALL.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the Great Seal of the City
of Dubuque to be affixed this 3rd day of June,
2013.
Roy D. Buol, Mayor
Attest:
Kevin S. Firnstahl, CMC, City Clerk
2013: Submitted by Vice -Chair R.R.S. Stewart of the Dubuque Human Rights Commission (DHRC)
on behalf of DHRC and Dora Serna on behalf of the Multicultural Family Center