DOVER – The House unanimously passed legislation Thursday recognizing Juneteenth as a state holiday, recognizing the official end of slavery in America.
Juneteenth commemorates when the last enslaved African Americans in the United States were emancipated, on June 19, 1865, more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. On that day, two months after the end of the Civil War, Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger in Galveston, Texas, issued General Order No. 3, which announced that in accordance with the Emancipation Proclamation, “all slaves are free.”
Sponsored by Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker, House Bill 119 would establish June 19 as a legal, permanent state holiday in Delaware.
“We are not that far removed from an era in which Americans owned other people as property. My great-grandparents were born slaves, and their struggle to achieve freedom, equality and opportunity has been passed down through my family. This story is the same for so many Black families,” said Rep. Dorsey Walker, D-Wilmington. “By placing Juneteenth on the same level as other holidays such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we shall be showing the significance of this day and what it means to Black people across our state and nation. June 19, 1865 is the day of true independence for Black people. Thank you to my colleagues for passing HB 119 unanimously today.”
Governor John Carney has formally recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday during the past two years, but if HB 119 passes, future Juneteenths would be recognized automatically. This also follows Congress and President Joe Biden declaring Juneteenth a federal holiday earlier this month.
“Governor John Carney has observed this day of emancipation each of the last two years in state government, as we continue to raise awareness of this important moment in history permanently by adding Juneteenth to the list of legal holidays here in the First State,” said Sen. Darius Brown, the lead Senate sponsor of HB 119. “I thank my colleagues in the House for passing this legislation and I look forward to sending the bill to Gov. Carney soon.”
HB 119 is part of the Delaware Legislative Black Caucus’ Justice for All Agenda, a multi-step plan unveiled in June 2020 in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and in response to a nationwide movement for racial justice and police reform.
HB 119 now heads to the Senate for consideration.
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