Local News

Flossmoor recognizes Juneteenth holiday

The Flossmoor Village Board on Monday passed a proclamation recognizing June 19 as Juneteenth, a holiday which celebrates the end of slavery for African Americans. The holiday recognizes the date Union General Gordon Granger issued a general order to free remaining slaves in Texas in 1865, which was more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation and months after the Civil War ended. 
 

The Flossmoor Village Board on Monday passed a proclamation recognizing June 19 as Juneteenth, a holiday which celebrates the end of slavery for African Americans.
 
The holiday recognizes the date Union General Gordon Granger issued a general order to free remaining slaves in Texas in 1865, which was more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation and months after the Civil War ended. 
 
This year’s Juneteenth marks the 154th anniversary of the general order.
 
The 13th Amendment banning slavery would not be officially ratified and adopted until December of 1865.
 
Mayor Paul Braun read the proclamation including the history of the holiday and presented a certificate to members of the village’s community relations commission.
 
“As we celebrate our diversity and work to become more united and develop a shared understanding of each other, it is important to remember the journey and struggles of African Americans throughout our country’s history,” Braun read.
 
The proclamation goes on to state that Juneteenth is a celebration of the end of slavery as well as a day to recognize the generations of African Americans “who fought and gave so much in the quest for freedom and civil rights.”
 
“On Juneteenth, we are called upon to recognize the significance of the day and join hearts and hands across Flossmoor to continue to make it the welcoming, beautiful and connected community we all hold dear,” Braun read.
 
Trustee Gyata Kimmons said he applauds the village for putting together the Juneteenth proclamation and including facts about its history. 
 
“A lot of people question about what Juneteenth is and why we continue to celebrate it,” Kimmons said.
 
He said the country experienced backlash when the 13th Amendment called for the abolition of slavery, and that backlash continues to this day in many ways.
 
“That’s the reason why Juneteenth is so important today,” Kimmons said. “You could say there was backlash from our last president (because he was African American).”
 
Braun said issuing the proclamation was just the first step in recognizing Juneteenth, and next year village staff plan work with the community relations commission to coordinate an event.
 

News by email

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name

Free weekly newsletter

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name
Most read stories this week