CORRECTIVE REPRINT
20060S1297B2033 02348SFL:SRA 06/30/06 #38 08/03/06
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2013 PRINTER'S NO. 2033
No. 1297 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY KITCHEN, WASHINGTON, HUGHES, A. WILLIAMS, FUMO,
TARTAGLIONE, FERLO, RAFFERTY, ERICKSON, RHOADES, COSTA,
MUSTO, LEMMOND, ORIE, BROWNE AND DINNIMAN, AUGUST 3, 2006
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, AUGUST 3, 2006
AN ACT
1 Providing for the designation and recognition of the third
2 Saturday in June as "Juneteenth National Freedom Day."
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Short title.
6 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Juneteenth
7 National Freedom Day Act.
8 Section 2. Legislative findings and declaration.
9 The General Assembly hereby finds and declares as follows:
10 (1) Originating in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865,
11 when slaves in that state learned that they had been freed,
12 "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" is the oldest African-
13 American holiday observance in the United States.
14 (2) The third Saturday in June of each year is hereby
15 designated as "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" in
16 Pennsylvania.
17 (3) "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" commemorates the
1 survival instinct of Africans who endured a transatlantic
2 journey, known as the Middle Passage, on slave ships from
3 their homeland to this country.
4 (4) Approximately 11.5 million Africans survived the
5 harsh voyage to slave markets in the New World during the
6 late 17th century, and the slave population in the American
7 colonies grew quickly.
8 (5) "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" further
9 commemorates the impact of slavery, the abolition movement
10 and African-American emancipation in the United States and
11 has become a traditional celebration of independence, human
12 rights and African-American culture in many communities.
13 Section 3. Designation.
14 The third Saturday in June is designated as "Juneteenth
15 National Freedom Day."
16 Section 4. Proclamation by Governor.
17 The Governor shall issue a proclamation each year calling
18 upon the people of this Commonwealth to recognize "Juneteenth
19 National Freedom Day" and to participate in events and
20 activities to commemorate this traditional celebration of
21 independence, human rights and African-American culture.
22 Section 5. Effective date.
23 This act shall take effect immediately.
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