OCEANFRONT — The City Council on Tuesday, June 15, voted to make Juneteenth a city holiday, adopting a proposal by Mayor Bobby Dyer that was supported by all but one member of the City Council.
Juneteenth — which on Thursday, June 17, became a federal holiday — commemorates June 19, 1865, when word of an order freeing slaves was proclaimed by the U.S. Army in Galveston, Texas.
Existing city funds would be used to cover costs such as overtime associated with adding the holiday, but City Councilmember John Moss, who holds an at-large seat, said he did not support the proposal because those funds might be better used to do something concrete, such as support the planned African American Cultural Center or even a documentary about Juneteenth.
Said Moss, “There’s a better result for the community for the money we would spend for the holiday. … A holiday is a hollow tribute to a very significant event.”
City Councilmember Aaron Rouse, who holds an at-large seat, noted support for the holiday was almost unanimous on the council – and that the city is the last in the region to take this step.
“As a member of the African American community,” he said, “this is a day that is celebrated throughout our culture, a day that outlawed slavery, and it doesn’t ring hollow in our ears whatsoever.”
He added, “Our culture is American culture, and we all are Americans so we all should celebrate it.”
The resolution passed, 9-1, with Moss voting against it. Dyer was absent for the vote, but on Tuesday, June 8, Dyer recommended observing Juneteenth on Friday, June 18, this year and also making it a permanent holiday to, in part, recognize the efforts of city workers after a difficult year.
“Hopefully, this is also a unifying thing that we lock arms as a society and recognize that we are working together in commonality and community and unity,” Dyer said.
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