National Juneteenth Observance Foundation
Celebration of Freedom
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)
662-247-3364 662-247-1471
e-mail: DOC@njof.org
Bob
Milner
612-724-4296
e-mail:
bob@skypoint.com
Juneteenth as a State
Holiday Observance
Rep. Jeff Hayden Champions
(
"I contacted State Representative Jeff Hayden, who is
presently sponsoring Juneteenth legislation in the Minnesota state
legislature, about the fact that Juneteenth has already been
established as a state holiday observance in the Minnesota state stautes
for over ten years," states Rev., Dr. Myers. "He was very glad to hear
about it because it will certainly make any new legislation concerning Juneteenth stronger
support."
"Minnesota 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, Indiana
and the District of Columbia in recognizing the end of enslavement in
America," states Rev., Dr. Myers.
Juneteenth commemorates the day when slaves in the last geographic
area in
"This is great news," states Bob Milner, Director of
the Minnesota National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign (NJPOF) and the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJPOF). "Now
that Juneteenth has been recognized as a state holiday observance in
Minnesota, I and other Juneteenth supporters throughgout
the state will request that Sen. Al Frankin (D-MN) and Sen. Amy
Klobuchar (D-MN) 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)."
"As more states like Indiana pass Juneteenth
legislation, we hope that President Barack Obama will finally establish Juneteenth
as a National Day of Observanc by issuing a Presidential
Proclamation,"This is another significant development in our campaign to
establish Juneteenth a National Day of Observanc 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 Observanc 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.