[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 71 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E963]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE ON THE CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NICK LAMPSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 9, 2000

  Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, on June 19th, thousands of African 
Americans in Galveston, Texas, the birthplace of Juneteenth, and around 
the Nation will celebrate this holiday of freedom and justice.
  Juneteenth, as this holiday is known, is a celebration of 
emancipation from slavery. On June 19, 1865, 30 months after President 
Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation, General Gordon 
Granger, who had been placed in command of the Federal occupation 
troops, arrived at Galveston Bay. He issued General Order No. 3--
Emancipation. This was the birth of Juneteenth in Texas. Juneteenth 
celebrations were held informally for 115 years.
  I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Texas State 
Representative Al Edwards. In 1978, Mr. Edwards envisioned that blacks 
could have a formal celebration of emancipation from slavery. During 
his first year as a legislator he wrote and lobbied to get passed into 
law the bill making June 19th a legal State holiday. Overcoming 
numerous setbacks, Representative Edwards pushed the bill through 
successful votes of the Texas House of Representatives and Senate 
within the last 24 hours of Texas' 66th Legislative Session. At a 
memorable and historical ceremony on the grounds of the Texas State 
Capitol in Austin, hundreds of supporters witnessed the bill's signing 
into law by Governor William P. Clements on June 13, 1979. As a result 
of Representative Edwards' efforts, Texans now witness the ``New 
Celebration of Juneteenth,'' an official State holiday.
  Mr. Speaker, freedom is a cherished word to all humanity, 
particularly to those in bondage. I challenge all of us to take this 
opportunity while we celebrate our rich history of freedom to 
rededicate ourselves to equal opportunity for all Americans, because 
that is at the heart of Juneteenth and the American ideal.

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