4a Draft Juneteenth Proclamtion
Item Number: 4a Meeting Date: November 17, 2020 1 ATION 2 3 4 PROCLAMATION 5 OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION 6 7 8 WHEREAS, Black lives matter; and 9 10 WHEREAS, Racial oppression is deeply rooted in our nation's early beginnings from the 11 mass exploitation of Native American populations to the enslavement of Black 12 Americans and acknowledging this checkered past is essential to healing and 13 creating a more equitable future; and 14 15 WHEREAS, On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation declared 16 "that all persons held as slaves...are, and henceforward shall be free"; and 17 18 WHEREAS, News and enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation did not reach Texas 19 until June 19, 1865, two and one half years later,when Major General Gordon 20 Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended 21 and that the enslaved were now free; and 22 23 WHEREAS, Juneteenth (June 19th) is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the 24 ending of slavery in the United States; and 25 26 WHEREAS, In 2003, Port employee Lilyian Caswell-Isley, former Director of Social 27 Responsibility, led the first celebration of Juneteenth at the Port, and through 28 the leadership of Blacks in Government, the Port continues to celebrate 29 Juneteenth annually; and 30 31 WHEREAS, The Port of Seattle Commission has a social responsibility to combat systemic 32 racism and racism in all its nefarious forms, and work to contribute to a more 33 equitable and just world; and 34 35 WHEREAS, The Century agenda Goal 5 calls for the Port to "Become a Model for Equity, 36 Diversity and Inclusion"; and 37 38 WHEREAS, In 2019 the Port established an Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion to 39 address institutional racism and increase equity, diversity, and inclusion in Port 40 policies, processes, and programs; and 41 WHEREAS, The official recognition of Juneteenth as a Port Holiday is a significant way that 42 we can celebrate freedom, help create a culture of belonging, and a more 43 equitable, anti-racist Port culture, 44 45 NOW, THEREFORE, the Port of Seattle Commission hereby honors and recognizes 46 Juneteenth, the 19th of June each year, as an official Port Holiday for non-represented 47 employees, and one of the many ways we celebrate our rich African-American cultural heritage, 48 acknowledge our history of institutional racism and slavery, demonstrate that Black lives matter, 49 and advance racial equity. 50 51 Proclaimed by the Port of Seattle Commission this 17th Day of November 2020. 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 Port of Seattle Commission 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 Port of Seattle Commission 75 76 77 78
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