Bill Text: TX HCR22 | 2023 | 88th Legislature 3rd Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designating Galveston as the Juneteenth Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2033.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-10-11 - Referred to Culture, Recreation & Tourism [HCR22 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HCR22-Introduced.html
| 88S30108 BK-D | ||
| By: Leo-Wilson | H.C.R. No. 22 | |
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| WHEREAS, Galveston holds a special place in American history | ||
| as the birthplace of Juneteenth, the longstanding observance that | ||
| commemorates the end of slavery in Texas and, more generally, in the | ||
| United States as a whole; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Juneteenth stems from the events of June 19, 1865, | ||
| when the Union Army arrived in Galveston following the end of the | ||
| Civil War; in accordance with President Abraham Lincoln's | ||
| Emancipation Proclamation, General Gordon Granger issued General | ||
| Order No. 3, which proclaimed that all enslaved persons in Texas | ||
| were free and that there would be "an absolute equality of personal | ||
| rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves"; | ||
| during the months that followed, this news traveled across the | ||
| state from Galveston and was joyously received by the approximately | ||
| 250,000 men, women, and children in Texas who had been living in | ||
| bondage; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The anniversary of this momentous event came to be | ||
| known as "Juneteenth," and it has since been marked with a variety | ||
| of festivities; during the 20th century, Juneteenth began growing | ||
| in popularity beyond Texas as celebrations spread to cities such as | ||
| Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota; in 1979, Texas | ||
| became the first state to make Juneteenth an official state | ||
| holiday, and Juneteenth National Independence Day, a federal | ||
| holiday, was established in 2021 by an act of Congress; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Juneteenth is observed in Galveston with an array of | ||
| special events, including a parade, an art exhibition, and a guided | ||
| tour to historic sites; in 2021, a public mural entitled Absolute | ||
| Equality was completed in downtown Galveston as an initiative of | ||
| the Juneteenth Legacy Project; spanning 5,000 square feet, the | ||
| vibrant and richly detailed mural by Reginald C. Adams depicts the | ||
| origins of Juneteenth and the journey of Black Americans from | ||
| slavery to freedom; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Galveston's historical association with Juneteenth | ||
| has made the city an important destination for those looking to | ||
| reflect on a landmark moment for our nation and on the ideals of | ||
| freedom, equality, and justice that the holiday represents, and it | ||
| is indeed fitting that the city's seminal role in the Juneteenth | ||
| observance be officially honored; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas, | ||
| 3rd Called Session, hereby designate Galveston as the official | ||
| Juneteenth Capital of Texas; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section | ||
| 391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in effect | ||
| until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally | ||
| passed by the legislature. | ||
