National Juneteenth Observance Foundation
Celebration of Freedom
2009 Washington National Juneteenth Holiday Observance
Contact: Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Chairman
National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign
National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)
National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC)
662-247-3364 662-247-1471
e-mail: JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com
web sites: www.19thofJune.com
www.Juneteenth.us
www.njclc.com
www.JuneteenthJazz.com
Clark Jones
Washington Juneteenth Committee
National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC)
301-925-0008
e-mail: clarkjones88@gmail.com
web site: www.njclc.com
2009 WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance
Crusader pushes Juneteenth as
national holiday
By Joe Gulick June 6, 2009
Many Legislators attended
Rep. Danny Davis Rep. Donna Christensen Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee Rep. Barbara Lee Sen. Roland Burris Rep. Bobby Scott
Prayer followed by many Speeches
on "Juneteenth & Biblical Reconciliation" Luc Gnacadja
Asst. United Nations Secretary General Luc Gnacadja delivered an inspiring statement following up on the results of the 1999 Benin Leadership Conference on Reconciliation and Development that was initiated by former Benin President Mathieu Kérékou. Secretary Gnacadja challenged the nations of the world to consider the model of Biblical Reconciliation that was instrumental in resolving deep conflicts and creating opportunities for economic development in
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D. and Pastor Jack Gaines were also among the key African American leaders who worked closely with former Congressman Tony Hall (D-OH) on the historic introduction of legislation for the Apology for Slavery before the Congress of the
Rev. Dr. Myers is sending letters to world leaders urging their support for the establishment of a World Day of Reconciliation and Healing beginning in 2010, on the "3rd Friday in June", an extension of the National Day of Reconciliation and Healing from the Legacy of Enslavement resulting from the Atlantic Slave Trade.
Pastor Gaines was also instrumental in organizing the historic visit of Mathieu Kérékou, President of Benin, a West Coast African nation, central in the histric Atlantic Slave Trade, to the United States, in 1999, announcing an Apology to African Americans for the role African leaders in Benin played in selling their own people to the Europeans during the tyranny of enslavement. President Kérékou returned to Africa to host the historic 1999 Benin Reconciliation Conference that included African heads of state, representatives of the U.S. Congress, traditional African elders and
In July of 2008, Congressman Steve Cohen was the sponsor of legislation for the U.S. House of Representatives Apology for Slavery. On June 18, 2009, during the WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance, Senator Tom Harkin sponsored legislation for the U.S. Senate Apology for Slavery.
by Felicia Mann June 19, 2009 
"In the year 2000, the 'Modern Juneteenth Movement' was the grass roots African American national group that worked closely with former Congressman Tony Hall on the second introduction of historic legislation for the U.S. Congress to officially apologize for slavery, on the '19th of June' at the nation's capitol. This was during our first WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance and National Day of Reconciliation and Healing from the Legacy of Enslavement.
By the grace of God through ten years of hard work and prayers, urging the congress and the president to support the work and mission of the 'Modern Juneteenth Movement' in America, the nation is moving much closer toward healing and reconciliation from the scars of enslavement."
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder & Chairman
National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC)
Maafa is Remembered
BARBARA L. SALISBURY/THE
solidarity at a service at
to commemorate Juneteenth and the Maafa, or
(6/20/08)
Theme: "A Time to Heal, A Time to Pray"
During the 2009 National Juneteenth Black Holocaust "Maafa" Memorial Service, Pastor Jack Gaines delivered an encouraging message on "Juneteenth & Biblical Reconciliation" and how Juneteenth is strategically positioned to model reconciliation and healing to the world.
The National Juneteenth Holiday is Remembered through music, dance and the arts
ART by nationally recognized African American artist Alvin Carter from Bogulusa, LA
Nationally recognized Bogalusa
artist Alvin Carter works on a piece he will
present to President Barack Obama on 'Juneteenth,' June 19, in Washington D.C.
Carter will have an Open House, exhibit and registration for his summer art
classes Saturday at his studio, just off Columbia Street on E. 4th Street.
DAILY NEWS PHOTO/Marcelle Hanemann
Pastor Johnnie Hunter
Pastor
Johnnie Hunter, President of L.E.A.R.N.,
announced the release of the DVD, "MAAFA
21", which was inspired by the words given by Rev. Ronald V.
Myers, Sr., M.D. at the 2008 National Juneteenth Black Holocuast
"Maafa" Memorial Service. The term "Maafa" (from
the book, "Let the Circle Be Unbroken", by Dr. Marimba
Ani) is a kiswahili term for "terrible occurrence" or "great
disaster" that African Americans have embraced to tell our own
story about enslavement and attempts to dehumanize us.
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Baptist Medical
Missionary and Family Practitioner, serving in the poorest geographic region in
America, the Mississippi Delta, sounded the alarm about the little known tragic
"negative population growth" of African Americans
because of the modern day "Maafa" of death and destruction
that Dr. Myers referred to as "Black Genocide."
www.AMAApology.com
www.MyersFoundation.net
www.AmericanPainInstitute.org
from Councilman Samuel H. Dean of Prince George's County Council
While Children had fun
Dandre Carnegie, 3, of Forestville,
takes a pony ride at the Juneteenth
celebration Saturday at Walker Mill Regional Park in
Photo by Christopher Anderson
National Juneteenth Father's Day
Sunday Morning Worship Service
Vermont Avenue Baptist Church
Rev. Cornelius Wheeler, Pastor
churches in Washington, DC that was founded by former slaves
We are anxiously awaiting his response to the thousands of petitions and letters sent to the White House
concerning the establishment of Juneteenth Independence Day as a National Day of Observance. Let us continue
to pray for President Obama, especially his staff, who have the responsibility to keep him informed daily on issues
important to African Americans."
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder & Chairman
National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign
National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)
National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC)
Proclamation to establish Juneteenth as a National
Holiday Observance in America
(Letter to President Obama)
Myers urges President Obama to support Juneteenth Jazz
during Black Music Month in June through the performance of
the AAJC/HBCU Student All-star Big Band at the annual
WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance
(Letter to President Obama)
Myers invites President Obama to speak at the
annual National Juneteenth Black Holocaust
"Maafa" Memorial Service in Washington, DC
Festival goers sign a petition to spread the Juneteenth tradition across the nation.
(Austin, TX) - This year's Juneteenth BBQ celebration in Round Rock is a Texas tradition, and some attendees are petitioning Washington D.C. to make it a national one.
Pamela Cotton helped coordinate the event and says Round Rock is making history while celebrating it.
"It's historical for the city of Round Rock, because it's the first time they actually acknowledged it as a celebration with the festivities that we have here this weekend," Cotton said.
For 65-year old Sarah Young, who is fairly new to Texas, celebrating Juneteenth isn't anything new.
"When I was living in Buffalo, New York, It had been celebrated for quite some time, and my former church back in Buffalo - we participated each year," Young said.
Like Young, some don't see Juneteenth as just a holiday for Texas. They want the entire nation to recognize the day.
"It'll be fine with me. I don't see why not. Juneteenth would be fabulous," said festival goer Bob Cocchiarella.
The holiday enthusiasts are armed with a pen in hand to take action.
Cotton estimated there would be about 1,000 people at Round Rock's first Juneteenth celebration. They can come out to enjoy some BBQ , maybe buy something from the vendors, but what she really wants them to do is put their signature on a petition.
"We want all of our attendees to sign the petition so we have lots of signatures to send off to Washington D.C, so they can see how important it is to us that this be a federal holiday," Cotton said.
If Juneteenth does ever become a national holiday, Young knows it'll be a great feat.
"We went to an all black school, and I was a part of the integration and coming this far..it's really meaningful to know we've come this far," Young said.
Young hopes something as simple as pen and paper will help take our nation one step further.
Gazette.net
- Maryland Community Newspapers Online
Juneteenth celebration spirit not dampened by
weather
By Ben Giles June 25, 2009
our sincere appreciation and thanks to Congressman Danny Davis, Congresswoman
Barbara Lee,
Senator Roland Burris, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Congressman Bobby
Scott,
Congresswoman Donna Christensen, all members and staff of the Congressional Black
Caucus (CBC)
and the Congressional Black Caucus
Foundation (CBCF) for their participation and support for
our 10th annual, 2009 WASHINGTON
JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance at the U.S. Capitol.
We have come a mighty long way in ten years."
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder & Chairman
National Juneteenth
National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)
National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC)