National Juneteenth Observance Foundation
                         Celebration of Freedom

                         

Maryland

 

PRESS RELEASE

Maryland to Become 43rd State to Recognize Juneteenth 

www.NationalJuneteenth.com

 http://www.nationaljuneteenth.com/Maryland.html

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (4/23/14)

Contact: Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D.,

               Founder & Chairman
               National Juneteenth Juneteenth Holiday Campaign
               National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)
               National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC)
               National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters (NAJJP)
               662-392-2016    662-247-1471
               e-mail: JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com
               web sites: www.NationalJuneteenth.com                

         

              Linda Hinnant
              Maryland Juneteenth Committee
              National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)
              Fort Washington, MD
              240-244-5356
              e-mail: lindahinnant@verizon.net

 

  

Melvin Stukes 

State Rep. Melvin Stukes

Frederick Douglass
Frederick Doouglass

Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D.
 Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D.  

 

 

Maryland to Become 43rd State to
Recognize Juneteenth as a State Holiday

Rep. Stukes Champions
Maryland Juneteenth Legislation

 

Home State of Abolitionist Frederick Douglass

to Recognize Juneteenth Independence Day

 

 
(Annapolis, Maryland) - Maryland, the home state of abolitionist Frederick Douglass, is now the 43rd state to officially recognize Juneteenth Independence Day as a state holiday or state holiday observance. State Representative Melvin Stukes recently introduced HB 549, "An Act concerning State Government - Commemorative Days - Juneteenth National Freedom" requiring the Governor to "annually to proclaim a certain day as Juneteenth National Freedom Day" in Maryland.
"We especially thank Rep. Stukes for leading the effort for Juneteenth to be recognized in the home state of the great abolitionist Frederick Douglass," states Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder & Chairman of the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign and the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF). "Douglass, who gave the greatest oration ever spoken on the subject of enslavement, 'What to the American Slave Is the 4th of July', should be honored across America whenever Juneteenth is celebrated by the reading of this historic ground breaking speech."

 

Juneteenth, or the "19th of June", recognizes June 19, 1865, in Galveston, TX, when Union General Gordon Granger announced freedom for all slaves in the last southern state in rebellion following the end of the Civil War. This occurred more than two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln. Upon the reading of General Order #3 by General Granger, the former slaves celebrated jubilantly, establishing America's second Independence Day Celebration and the oldest African American holiday observance.

With just seven states remaining, Rev. Myers is optimistic that President Obama
will finally issue a Juneteenth Proclamation at the White House, built by enslaved Americans of African descent during the tyranny of slavery.
 
"The U.S. Senate has been urged to pass legislation to make like Flag Day or Patriot Day," states Rev., Dr. Myers. "Hopefully the U.S. House of
Representatives will do the same in 2014."
 
For information on the Juneteenth Holiday Campaign and the WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance, contact Linda Hinnant at 240-244-5356; e-mail: lindahinnant@verizon.net or Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D. at 662-392-2016, 662-247-1471 or e-mail: JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com or web site: www.NationalJuneteenth.com.

Contact Rep. Stukes at 410-841-3544, 301-858-3544 or e-mail: melvin.stukes@house.state.md.us.
                                                                                                  Contact Us