City of Milwaukee - File #: 200272

• File #: 200272
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution-Immediate Adoption
• Status: Passed
• File created: 6/16/2020
• In control: COMMON COUNCIL
• Final action: 6/16/2020
• Title: Resolution directing the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division to seek introduction and passage of legislation establishing Juneteenth Day as a federal holiday.
• Sponsors: ALD. COGGS, ALD. LEWIS, ALD. HAMILTON, ALD. RAINEY, ALD. STAMPER, ALD. DODD, ALD. BAUMAN, ALD. DIMITRIJEVIC, ALD. ZAMARRIPA, ALD. JOHNSON, ALD. PEREZ, ALD. KOVAC, ALD. MURPHY
• Indexes: FEDERAL LEGISLATION, HOLIDAYS

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
6/25/2020	0	MAYOR	SIGNED
6/16/2020	0	COMMON COUNCIL	ADOPTED; Minutes note: Ald. Stamper, Dodd, Bauman, Dimitrijevic, Zamarripa, Johnson, Perez, Kovac and Murphy added as cosponsors.	Pass	15:0

IMMEDIATE ADOPTION

Number

200272

Version

ORIGINAL

Reference

Sponsor

ALD. COGGS, LEWIS, HAMILTON, RAINEY, STAMPER, DODD, BAUMAN, DIMITRIJEVIC, ZAMARIPPA, JOHNSON, PEREZ, KOVAC, MURPHY

Title

Resolution directing the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division to seek introduction and passage of legislation establishing Juneteenth Day as a federal holiday.

Analysis

This resolution directs the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division to seek introduction and passage of federal legislation establishing Juneteenth Day as a federal holiday.

Body

Whereas, Juneteenth Day is the oldest recognized celebration observing the freedom of African-Americans from the bonds of slavery in the United States, and is a historic milestone in the fight for civil rights; and

Whereas, The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 1863, but it had minimal immediate effect on the majority of enslaved people who remained in captivity and oppression by slave owners; and

Whereas, On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Confederate-controlled Texas to take possession of the state and to enforce the emancipation of enslaved people throughout the state; and

Whereas, This date marks the moment when the last of those enslaved within the United States were freed; and

Whereas, As time passed, the date June 19th became colloquially referred to as “Juneteenth Day” and is a celebration of freedom from slavery within the United States; and

Whereas, 46 states, including Wisconsin, officially recognize Juneteenth Day; and

Whereas, It would be fitting to establish the day the federal government emancipated the last known enslaved individuals in the United States as a federal holiday; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division shall seek introduction and passage of legislation establishing Juneteenth Day as a federal holiday; and be it

Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall forward a copy of this resolution to  each member of the City of Milwaukee’s Congressional Delegation.

Requestor

Drafter

LRB176152-1

Luke Knapp

6/15/2020