John,
For the third year in a row since being elected governor, I signed a proclamation designating June 19 “Juneteenth National Freedom Day” here in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
On this day, 157 years ago, Major General Gordon Granger led Union soldiers into Galveston, Texas, bringing news of the Civil War’s end. Major General Granger also read an order that stated, per the Emancipation Proclamation, that all enslaved people were free and that former slave owners and enslaved people had equal personal and property rights.
Sadly, the troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Worse, thousands of Black Americans in Kentucky remained enslaved until the 13th Amendment was fully passed on December 18, 1865.
Over 200,000 Black Americans fought bravely in the Union to secure their freedom from enslavement and preserve this Union. Many sacrificed their lives for the ultimate freedom of their families.
Today, we honor this holiday and the ultimate triumph over extreme adversity through sheer determination and overwhelming tenacity made by Black Americans.
We must never forget this dark chapter in our history. Kentuckians must continue to work toward a more equitable and just Commonwealth while recognizing the horrors of slavery and its legacy.
Wishing all a meaningful Juneteenth,
Andy
|
|
|
PO Box 4278 Louisville, KY 40204 United States |
|
|