5 HAVE A PROUD AND HAPPY JUNETEENTH! juneteenth@juneteenth.com 5 5 5 CELEBRATE SAFELY 5 Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Join the Juneteenth Yard Sign Campaign

Yard Sign Campaign From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long over due. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society. General Order Number 3 One of General Granger’s first orders of business was to read to the people of Texas, General Order Number 3 which began most significantly with: "The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer." The celebrations that followed the reading of the proclamation by General Gordon Granger began a tradition that has lasted for one hundred and fifty five years, and today is hosted in cities across America and beyond. The JUNETEENTH.com website is dedicated to this celebration and to those who tirelessly contribute to its continued existence and growth. For information regarding this website, contact us via email or call: 504 242-4691 . © JUNETEENTH.com

Dedicated to the memory of Tom Feelings and his extraordinary work

"The Middle Passage" 5 Let's make Juneteenth a commemorative, not of the horrific institution our country embraced, but rather as a showcase of the strength in the American spirit to recognize wrong and set about making it right. In this same spirit America moves ahead today in leveling playing fields and achieivng ever greater equality. Let us celebrate all that Juneteenth teaches us about our country's greatness in ouruse of the heart to hear and to learn and to work together for all that is good and just. John

Albuquerque I n June of 2008, my grandmother was laid to rest. As our funeral procession passed near Wichita State University in Wichita, KS, a parade was taking place. The parade stopped to let us pass, and the men and women on horseback removed their cowboy hats and placed them over their hearts. It was the first time that day we laughed - Grams would have loved that she stopped a parade. What those men and women did not know is my Grams was a First Lieutenant in the Army - she served during WWII as a psychiatric nurse. She lived an amazing life after that, with God at the helm.

I learned today that the parade that day by WSU was the Juneteenth Parade. That the men and women so selflessly stopped to allow our funeral procession to move past has remained in our family's hearts and minds all these years. We cannot thank you enough for your kindness. You are forever a part of our family's history. Angie

Kansas juneteenth@juneteenth.com L ook for the Official Juneteenth World Wide Celebration emblem at Juneteenth events across America and beyond! ©JUNETEENTH.com 1996-2020 All rights reserved

5 " I am proud of the work

Cliff Robinson and Juneteenth.com have done for years and I join them in calling for Juneteenth to be a national holiday.

Happy Juneteenth America! " Usher

Washington Post

" This site is very inspiring. I am starting my annual tradition . God Bless! " Isabel

Portugal

" I cannot say thank you enough. This website has done what word of mouth could never hope to accomplish. It has reached all walks of life. It gives hope, rekindles memories, makes others aware, it is a tool that can be used to complete a job that is still in finishing stages. We should never forget those who gave so much and received so little to make this day possible. " C. Harris

California

" Your website has awakened in me wonderful memories of my families celebration of Juneteenth. We celebrated with music, food, sharing of our blessings, and ended by the entire congregation dancing the Grand March on the lawn of the church. " Nia

Florida

" The praise and celebration of Juneteenth has been a long time in coming. We thank the people of Galveston, Texas for patience and endurance. God Bless! " Cheryl D " This is a great site. I hope all Americans will embrace the spirit of Juneteenth as one of freedom and culture, and take time to reflect on the great mosaic of America. When we see ourselves as one people, with our differences adding flavor to our similarities, America becomes a truly great nation and people in the eyes of history. " Jack

New Mexico Read more Please support our efforts.

It's time to REBUILD and EXPAND this historical Website. IN THE NEWS Starting the trend for making Juneteenth a company holiday. Twitter and Square Make "Juneteenth a Company Holiday. "Countries and regions around the world have their own days to celebrate emancipation, and we will do the work to make those dates company holidays everywhere we are present."

-Jack Dorsey Nike "important opportunity to better commemorate and celebrate Black history and culture,” - John Donahoe Lyft : "Starting this year, we’re making Juneteenth an official holiday at Lyft. It’s one step in our ongoing journey toward racial equality at Lyft, and in this country." NFL: “reflect on our past but, more importantly, consider how each one of us can continue to show up and band together to work toward a better future.”

-Roger Goodell Quicken Loans “We are encouraging those team members to use it to have a voice, to contribute to the community, to celebrate their identity or use it to learn more about addressing racial inequity. -Jay Farner Atlanta Hawks “Black lives matter. There is no in-between. We, as an organization and part of the Atlanta community, are determined to be a part of the solution.” Tony Ressler.