Proclaim June 19, 2023 to be Juneteenth
Whereas, since the inception of the United States, beginning with the first known Europeans to set foot on this land in 1492, peoples of non-western European descent have had challenges obtaining equal and ethical consideration, respect, and treatment by those of western European descent; and
Whereas, voluntary and involuntary indentured servitude in the United States began as a method of obtaining cheap labor based on class, social position, or criminal punishment, it soon evolved into involuntary slavery based on race; and
Whereas, on September 22, 1862, then Union President Abraham Lincoln issued, and later made effective and signed on January 1, 1863 the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the freedom of slaves in Confederate states which rebelled against the Union, tied slavery to the Civil War and allowed Blacks to fight on behalf of the Union; and
Whereas, on June 19, 1865, the news of the Emancipation Proclamation and its impact was presented to the enslaved people of Galveston Bay, Texas, informing them of their freedom; and
Whereas, on December 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was ratified, thus ending slavery and non-conditional servitude in the United States; and
Whereas, we honor June 19th, now known as the portmanteau Juneteenth as the day we celebrate the end of slavery in the United States; and
Whereas, Juneteenth is a holiday for remembrance, honor, and celebration of Black culture, liberation, and achievements made and encouragement to continue to grow beyond limited expectations and push past any obstacle real or imagined; and
Whereas, Juneteenth is an acknowledgement and declaration of Freedom from iron chains, freedom from mental and emotional chains; Freedom from near unbreakable invisible chains forged in the scarring fires of generations of physical and mental trauma; and
Whereas, Juneteenth is a time to reflect on where we've been; where we are; and to create a vision for where we desire to go and do our part in rewriting a narrative that often depicts the Black person as downtrodden, troublesome, threatening, unworthy, undervalued, and less than human; and
Whereas, as we re-write our narrative, we take pride in acknowledging our struggle while also grabbing our story by the reins and guiding it in a graceful way to speak our truth of resilience, triumph, value, worth, grace, poise, brilliance, and excellence; and
Whereas, we as a people walk with our heads held high, our shoulders squared, putting one foot in front of the other knowing that the odds are against us but yet we refuse to lay down. We will continue to rise up and rise above these suppressive, oppressive, exclusive, and depressive ways of a racist world that can often be found seeking to destroy the true essence of the black diaspora; and
Whereas, we call upon all peoples to join us in celebration as we use this freedom from these slaveries to exercise our minds to build, hearts to love, words to encourage, and hands to heal.
Now, therefore, I, Ted Wheeler, Mayor of the City of Portland, Oregon, the “City of Roses,” do hereby proclaim June 19, 2023, to be
Juneteenth
In Portland and encourage all peoples to celebrate this freedom not just on June 19th, but every day.