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WHEREAS, since 1865, Juneteenth, the celebration of the end of chattel slavery and passage of the 13th Amendment, has been recognized and celebrated in 47 states throughout America; and,
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WHEREAS, Juneteenth represents the date in 1865 when union soldiers reached Galveston, Texas, the furthest point in the south, with news of the end of the Civil War. Slaves were previously unaware they had been freed more than two years earlier when President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, or that Confederate General Robert E. Lee had surrendered in Virginia two months earlier; and,
WHEREAS, on Wednesday June 19th, 2019, Governor Wolf signed HB 619 into law making Juneteenth a recognized holiday in the State of Pennsylvania; and,
WHEREAS, June 19, 2020 is the first anniversary of Pennsylvania declaring Juneteenth as National Freedom Day to promote equality, liberty and justice for all people; and,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby request that the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh recognize June 19 as a holiday in the City of Pittsburgh effective June 19, 2021,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Will of Council shall be presented to the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh.