Make Juneteenth a Massachusetts Holiday and a State Legal Holiday
Make Juneteenth a Massachusetts Holiday and a State Legal Holiday
The Issue
We would like to mobilize our group of 1,600+ community members of the Acton area as well as all residents of Massachusetts to sign this petition to our state government. Specifically, we are asking Gov. Charlie Baker, the speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Thomas DeLeo, and the president of the Massachusetts Senate, Karen Spilka to make Juneteenth a Massachusetts holiday and a state legal holiday and to join other states in the push to make it a national holiday.
As described on Juneteenth.com, “Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics, and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement, and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long overdue. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities, and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.”
Our group of 1,600+ community members from the Acton area is committed to raising their voice peacefully against racism, prejudice, and the killing of innocent black people. We believe that legislation to make Juneteenth a state and ultimately a national holiday would be beyond symbolic because it would send a powerful message about the need to address the systemic racism that continues to plague our society and institutions, including healthcare, education, employment, housing, and criminal justice.
801
The Issue
We would like to mobilize our group of 1,600+ community members of the Acton area as well as all residents of Massachusetts to sign this petition to our state government. Specifically, we are asking Gov. Charlie Baker, the speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Thomas DeLeo, and the president of the Massachusetts Senate, Karen Spilka to make Juneteenth a Massachusetts holiday and a state legal holiday and to join other states in the push to make it a national holiday.
As described on Juneteenth.com, “Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics, and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement, and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long overdue. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities, and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.”
Our group of 1,600+ community members from the Acton area is committed to raising their voice peacefully against racism, prejudice, and the killing of innocent black people. We believe that legislation to make Juneteenth a state and ultimately a national holiday would be beyond symbolic because it would send a powerful message about the need to address the systemic racism that continues to plague our society and institutions, including healthcare, education, employment, housing, and criminal justice.
801
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on June 18, 2020