Leahy Praises Senate Passage Of
Resolution
Commemorating End Of Slavery In America
WASHINGTON
(Wednesday, June 18, 2008) – The U.S. Senate last night
unanimously passed a resolution
recognizing the 143rd anniversary of Juneteenth on
June 19. Juneteenth Independence Day commemorates the day on
which slavery came to an end in 1865. This year, Vermont became
the 29th state to recognized Juneteenth as a state
holiday. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) issued the following
statement on the Senate’s passage of the important resolution.
Statement Of
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),
Chairman,
Senate Judiciary Committee,
Commemorating
The 143rd Anniversary Of The End Of Slavery In America
And Urging A Renewed Commitment To Civil Rights
June 17, 2008
This week we commemorate the 143rd
anniversary of Juneteenth, the day our Nation's moral pendulum
swung from slavery to freedom.
On June 19, 1865, our Nation
turned a significant corner. We ushered in what President
Lincoln called in his Gettysburg address a “new birth of
freedom.” We ended an oppression endured by generations of
Americans and threw off the chains that shackled our common bond
of freedom. We laid the roots for a constitutional revolution
that, through the Civil War Amendments, transformed our founding
charter from one that defended oppression, to one that embraced
equal rights and human dignity.
Over a century later we have made
significant progress, but the struggle to secure basic rights
for all remains unfulfilled. Just a few months ago, the United
Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination found that racial disparities continue to
challenge our commitment to equality. I was not surprised to
see that the UN report rebuked this administration's poor civil
rights record. After 9/11, the Bush administration eroded many
of the most precious rights and liberties held by all
Americans. Just last week, the Supreme Court in the
Boumediene opinion,
beat back one of these most egregious attempts, restoring the
Great Writ of habeas corpus to its rightful place as a mechanism
to guarantee liberty from arbitrary confinement. But this
administration has also played politics with critical voting
laws, and failed to protect our most vulnerable citizens. The
Bush administration’s poor civil rights record has damaged
America’s prestige around the world, and undermined our
tradition of progress on civil rights.
Vermont is a State
that holds a unique place in America’s march toward equal
justice. It was the first to outlaw slavery. Vermonters
offered shelter to runaway slaves seeking refuge while in
transit to Canada. Indeed, in just the tiny town of Brandon, 17
homes were stations on the Underground Railroad. I am proud
that this month Vermont joined the states recognizing Juneteenth
as a state holiday. It is important for our children and
grandchildren to know our history, and to know that ordinary
people can make a difference.
As we reflect on the sacrifices of
past generations, their example should inspire us all in our
present day struggle to secure human and civil rights. We must
reaffirm our faith in our cherished freedoms and restore our
commitment to protect basic rights. I hope all Americans will
celebrate Juneteenth by working towards building the more
perfect union we want for generations to come.
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110TH
CONGRESS
2D
SESSION
S. RES.
584
Recognizing the
historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day and
expressing the sense of the Senate that history should be
regarded as a means for understanding the past and solving the
challenges of the future.
_______________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
_______________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the
historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day and
expressing the sense of the Senate that history should be
regarded as a means for understanding the past and solving the
challenges of the future.
Whereas news of the
end of slavery did not reach frontier areas of the United
States, and in particular the Southwestern States, for more than
2 years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of
January 1, 1863, and months after the conclusion of the Civil
War;
Whereas, on June 19,
1865, Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived
in Galveston, Texas,
with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved
were free;
Whereas
African-Americans who had been slaves in the Southwest
celebrated June 19, commonly known as ‘‘Juneteenth Independence
Day’’, as the anniversary of their emancipation;
Whereas
African-Americans from the Southwest continue the tradition of
celebrating Juneteenth Independence Day as inspiration and
encouragement for future generations;
Whereas, for more
than 140 years, Juneteenth Independence Day celebrations have
been held to honor African-American freedom while encouraging
self-development and respect for all cultures;
Whereas, although
Juneteenth Independence Day is beginning to be recognized as a
national, and even global, event, the history behind the
celebration should not be forgotten; and
Whereas the faith
and strength of character demonstrated by former slaves remains
an example for all people of the United States, regardless of
background, religion, or race: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved,
That—
(1) the Senate—
(A) recognizes the
historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day to the
Nation;
(B) supports the
continued celebration of Juneteenth Independence Day to provide
an opportunity for the people of the United States to learn more
about the past and to understand better the experiences that
have shaped the Nation; and
(C) encourages the
people of the United States to observe Juneteenth Independence
Day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs; and
(2) it is the sense
of the Senate that—
(A) history should
be regarded as a means for understanding the past and solving
the challenges of the future; and
(B) the celebration
of the end of slavery is an important and enriching part of the
history and heritage of the United States.
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