Travis County Commissioners Court
Tuesday, June 15, 2010,
Item 4
4. Approve proclamation recognizing the 21st annual "juneteenth - emancipation day" celebration to be held on friday, june 18, 2010. (judge biscoe and the proclamation reads whereas juneteenth commemorates the survival of african-americans brought to this country as slaves in a month long journey across the atlantic ocean, whereas more than 11 million africans survived the voyage to the new world and were enslaved in the united states for more than 200 years after arrival. Whereas on september 22nd, 1862, president lincoln issued an order to free slaves effective january 1, 1863. However, it was not until june 19th, 1865, 30 months later, that general gordon granger of the united states calvary arrived in galveston, texas and found blacks still enslaved. Whereas on that day in 1865, general granger delivered general order number 3, in which president lincoln proclaimed that all slaves were free. Whereas juneteenth celebrated annually on the 19th day of june in the name given to emancipation day by african-americans in texas. Whereas juneteenth celebrations began in texas, especially east texas, my hometown and spread to the neighboring states of louisiana, arkansas and oklahoma, as texans migrated the celebrations also spread to alabama, florida and california. Whereas in many parts of texas, ex-slaves purchased land or emancipation grounds for juneteenth gatherings, examples include emancipation park in houston, what is now booker t. Park in mexia and emancipation park in our own east austin. Courageous men and women of all races are still fighting for freedom, justice and equality for african-americans, whereas juneteenth is a time for reflection, rejoicing, assessment and planning for the future, whereas the 21st annual employee juneteenth emancipation day celebration will be held on friday at wooldridge park plaza in 11:00 a.m. To 2:00 p.m., each county employee has a full hour to celebrate, right, during that time? Now therefore be it resolved that we the members of the travis county commissioners court do hereby proclaim june 19th, 2010 as emancipation day in travis county and encourage ail encourage alltravis county and f austin employees and residents to attend juneteenth festivities and support the nobel purpose of emancipation day.
>> move.
>> second.
>> good morning.
>> any additional comments. Excellent proclamations by the way. Are these proclamations getting longer or shorter?
>> [laughter]
>> my name is deon
>> [indiscernible] from commissioner ron davis' office, i would like to thank you on behalf of the travis county juneteenth planning committee. I would like members of the planning committee who are they're introduce themselves and tell the departments they work with.
>> i'm sue spears with comirs ron davis' office. I would also like to recognize sheryl brown who is our chair who is not here today because without sheryl cracking the whip this event would not be able to take place.
>> my name is hector reyes, representing facilities management.
>> my name is
>> [indiscernible] tovar with the
>> [indiscernible]
>> my name is mryna
>> [indiscernible] i work for juvenile probation.
>> welcome to all of you. Good to see you again.
>> thank you. Again, i would like to remind everybody to be at wooldridge park for that hour that judge biscoe said -- we'll be there from 11:00 a.m. To 2:00 p.m. And for those of you all who decide to come out there, you may see some surprises. There's a lot of talent within the travis county employees, so you may get to see a couple of employees perform. We definitely encourage the commissioners court and for all directors, departments, to send their staff over for lunch because we're having booths that are servive frito pie, brisket, corn on the cob, chicken wings, snow cones, sodas, also juneteenth t-shirts because we want people to celebrate the holiday responsibly, we are having a dwi prevention information booth and also because it's not going to be 62 degrees like it is in st. Paul, we are having a dunking booth.
>> [laughter] and if any of -- judge or commissioners, if any of you all --
>> i'm already signed up.
>> all right. Yes.
>> if anybody wants to come, they need to come between 11:00 and 12:00 to dunk me.
>> you heard that everybody.
>> in any other commissioners want to cool off like commissioner eckhardt would, please feel free to volunteer
>> [laughter] again, it's a 11:00 a.m. To 2:00 p.m. And wooldridge park plaza, we definitely look forward to seeing you all there.
>> we sell -- most of the refreshments are sold, but the proceeds are used to benefit worthy causes in our community and a little bit of it goes back to the juneteenth special fund for use for the following year to really set up the juneteenth celebration. So -- so most of the elected officials make a $25 contribution. That sort of funds this. No county money is used. But commissioner davis and i have been co-sponsors now how many years?
>> goodness, judge, it's getting on up there.
>> many, many years.
>> we started at a very young age.
>> that's right
>> [laughter]
>> appreciate the committee's work. I know that you all have been meeting during your lunch hour.
>> 12 years.
>> so we'll see you on friday.
>> all right, thank you.
>> thank you all very much.
>> all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. By the way this is for all city and county employees and members of the public.
>> yes, sir.
>> welcome to come down.
>> thank you.
>> thank you all very much.
>> thank you.
>> should i just take the proclamation to you all, give it to sheryl.
>> we'll do it.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, June 15, 2010 2:35 PM
