Press Release Indiana Becomes the 34th State to Recognize Juneteenth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (2/11/10)
Contact: Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D.,
Chairman
National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign
National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)
National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC)
National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters (NAJJP)
662-247-3364 662-247-1471
e-mail:
doc@njof.org
web sites:
www.Juneteenth.us
www.njclc.com
www.JuneteenthJazz.com
www.JazzIllinois.net
www.JazzIndiana.net
Elder Raymond Christian
Indiana Juneteenth Committee
National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)
219-201-6190
e-mail:
sirrcccapt@msn.com
web site:
www.19thofJune.com
Rep William Crawford Dr. Larry Ridley Dr. Ronald Myers Elder Raymond Christian
Indiana Becomes the 34th State to Recognize
Juneteenth as a State Holiday Observance
Rep. William Crawford Champions Indiana Juneteenth Legislation
(Indianapolis, IN) - Indiana has become he 34th state to recognize
Juneteenth as a state holiday or state holiday observance thanks to
legislation introduced by State Representative William Crawford and
passed by the Indiana legislature.
"Indiana joins Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Delaware, Alaska, Idaho, Iowa,
California, Wyoming, Illinois, Missouri, Connecticut, Louisiana, New
Jersey, New York, Colorado, Arkansas, Oregon, Kentucky, Michigan, New
Mexico, Virginia, Washington State, Tennessee, Massachusetts, North
Carolina, West Virginia, South Carolina, Vermont, Nebraska, Kansas,
Wisconsin, Minnesota and the District of Columbia in recognizing the
end of enslavement in America," states Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D.,
Founder & Chairman of the National Juneteeenth Holiday Campaign and
the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF).
Juneteenth commemorates the day when slaves in the last
geographic area in America where slavery existed learned of their
freedom. This took place on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, when
Union General Gordon Granger read General Order #3, announcing that
"all slaves are free" by Proclamation of President Abraham Lincoln. The
Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on
September 22, 1862, and issued on January 1, 1863. It took over two and
a half years for the news to travel to southwest Texas.
"We especially appreciate the efforts of State
Representative William Crawford for sponsoring legislation that has
made all of this possible," states Elder Raymond Christian, Director of
the Indiana Juneteenth Holiday Campaign for the National Juneteenth
Observance Foundation (NJOF). "Now that Juneteenth is a state holiday
observance in Indiana, I and other Juneteenth supporters in the state
will request that Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Sen. Evan Byah (D-IN)
co-sponsor legislation in the U.S. Senate to make Juneteenth a National
Day of Observance, that will be introduced by lead sponsor Sen. Roland
Burris (D-IL)."
Indianapolis native, Dr. Larry Ridley, master jazz bassist
and Executive Director of the African American Jazz Caucus (AAJC), will
be honored for his support for Juneteenth legislation at the annual
Indianapolis Juneteenth Jazz & Heritage Festival on June 24th, at
the Madame C.J. Walker Theatre Center. The festival is part of "June Is
Black Music Month!" - CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH JAZZ - "Preserving Our
African Amerian Jazz Legacy!" and is in partnership with the National
Association of Juneteenth Jazz Prsenters (NAJJP).
"As more states like Indiana pass Juneteenth legislation, we
hope that President Barack Obama will finally establish Juneteenth as a
National Holiday Observance by issuing a Presidential
Proclamation,"This is another significant development in our campaign
to establish Juneteenth a National Day of Observance in America,"
states Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D."
Thousands of petitions have been forwarded to the White
House urging President Obama to make Juneteenth a National Day of
Observance and to establish a Presidential National Juneteenth
Commission.
"The official recognition of Juneteenth Independence Day and the end of
enslavement by state governments and congress are very significant
steps in bringing healing to America from the legacy of enslavement,"
states Rev., Dr. Myers, also Chairman of the National Juneteenth
Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC) and the Founder and Director of
the National Day of Reconciliation & Healing From the Legacy of
Enslavement during the annual WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday
Observance.
For information on the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign, the
National Day of Reconciliation & Healing From the Legacy of
Enslavement, National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters (NAJJP)
or the WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance, contact Rev.
Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D. at 662-247-3364 or e-mail:
JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com or web sites: www.NationalJuneteenth.com,
www.Juneteenth.us, www.19thofJune.com and www.njclc.com.
For information on the African American Jazz Caucus (AAJC) contact Dr.
Larry Ridley at 212-979-0304, e-mail LHRidley1937@gmail.com, web site:
www.aajc.us.