The City Council Proclaims June 19, 2023, as Juneteenth

Proclamation Declaring June 19, 2023, as Juneteenth Day in the City of Tualatin

WHEREAS, the City Council's 2030 Vision is for Tualatin to be an inclusive community that promotes equity, diversity, and access in creating a meaningful quality of life for everyone; and

WHEREAS, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring enslaved people as free, paving the way for the passage of the 13th Amendment, which formally abolished slavery in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Texas was the last of the Confederate States to receive orders requiring the end of slavery, with Union troops announcing that all slaves were free in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865; and

WHEREAS, June 19 has a special meaning to African Americans, and has been celebrated by the Black American community for more than 150 years; and

WHEREAS, Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery and recognizes the high price Black Americans have paid for civil rights and equal access; and 

WHEREAS, Juneteenth is an occasion to remember and reflect on the significant ways that African Americans have enriched society through their contributions; and

WHEREAS, Tualatin is a community that includes, values, and welcomes diversity in our community, and we believe that the rich diversity of communities in Tualatin is one of our greatest strengths. 

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUALATIN, OREGON, that: 

June 19, 2023, is recognized as Juneteenth the City of Tualatin. The community is encouraged to respect and honor our diverse community, celebrate, and build a culture of inclusivity and acceptance.