PROCLAMATION
June 19, 2020 as “Juneteenth”
WHEREAS, Juneteenth recognizes a pivotal turning point in American history; and
WHEREAS, the name Juneteenth in itself is a mash-up of the month and the date (“June” + “the nineteenth”) and Juneteenth is the most popular celebration of Black emancipation in the United States after the Civil War, commemorating June 19, 1865 as the day the Union Army enforced Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation from 1863; and
WHEREAS, in the year 2020, we are entering another pivotal turning point in American history; and
WHEREAS, the City of Excelsior Springs, like many in our community, share in the heartbreak and anger over the murder of George Floyd, the spate of racist events and excessive force against protesters across the country, and the systemic racism that continues to exist in the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, it is our purpose to serve the best interests of all, achieve equality and social justice, and act with integrity so that we may earn the trust of all those we serve, knowing that addressing systemic racism is our ethical obligation; and
WHEREAS, “the fierce urgency of now,” as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, is long overdue and we stand with those members of our community who can forge real change and support an aggressive respect for human rights; and
WHEREAS, systemic racism is far reaching in society and goes beyond policing as we affirm our commitment to support the professional police officers and staff that serve our community and will continue to support their efforts to value all people; and
WHEREAS, in doing so successfully, we will need to embrace new ideas, methods, and skills and above all courage to step into roles that we may have been uncomfortable with in the past; and
WHEREAS, great social changes often come from turmoil and we as local government leaders can lead that transformation; and
WHEREAS, we can create the kind of community we envision, where everyone can flourish and we begin now by acknowledging Black Lives Matter.
NOW, THEREFORE, I Sharon Powell, Mayor of the City of Excelsior Springs, in recognition of this event do hereby proclaim June 19, 2020 as “Juneteenth.”
Sharon Powell, Mayor