Ames City Council Proclaims 'Juneteenth' On June 19

Press release from the City of Ames:

June 18, 2020

Mayor John Haila and the Ames City Council issued a proclamation recently recognizing and honoring “Juneteenth” on Friday, June 19. The proclamation recounts an important date in U.S. history first celebrated in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1866. Exactly one year earlier, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, and publicly read the Emancipation Proclamation, marking the final Confederate state in which the Emancipation Proclamation was announced and enforced.

Juneteenth is celebrated through outdoor community-building activities around food, prayer, and community- and self-improvement discussions. Juneteenth is also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day and Cel-Liberation Day. Texas was the first state to recognize Juneteenth, which 47 states of 50 followed in recognizing it as a state holiday or day of observance. (https://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm)

“Juneteenth reminds us of the historical struggle for human and civil rights faced by African Americans in this nation and in our own community,” said Mayor John Haila. “Our work is not done. This day should be celebrated by everyone who believes in the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

The Ames Police Department will be participating in a local Juneteenth Celebration planned for 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday at Franklin Park, 147 S. Franklin Ave. Participants can listen to music, enjoy pizza, and discuss national and local concerns about social justice issues.

Additionally, as part of ongoing efforts to increase transparency, listen to feedback, and encourage dialogue about law enforcement policies and practices, the City of Ames is collaborating with the Ames branch of the NAACP to host a series of Town Hall Meetings via videoconferencing. The first meeting was held on June 11, and additional meetings are planned for June 25, July 9, and July 23. More information is available at https://www.cityofames.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/8821/31

“With more than 300 online attendees, the turnout at our first meeting far exceeded expectations, and it showed great community interest,” Haila said. “We need to continue to hear from our residents about their experiences and their concerns. We welcome these opportunities to become more responsive.”

Haila continued, "I strongly encourage all Ames residents to listen to, and participate in, discussions like this. We need to assess ourselves and identify changes that each of us should personally make and commit to working together to make every person feel they are a valued and appreciated member of the Ames community."

This press release was produced by the City of Ames. The views expressed here are the author’s own.