Congressman Cohen Supports Making Juneteenth a National Holiday
Historic anniversary of the end of slavery deserves national recognition
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), who in 2008 drafted and passed a historic Congressional resolution apologizing for slavery and Jim Crow-era discrimination, today announced that he will enthusiastically support calls for making Juneteenth a national holiday. On June 19th, 1865, Union soldiers first informed slaves held in Texas that they had been freed more than two years earlier by President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
"Friday is Juneteenth, the 155th anniversary of June 19, 1865, when the enslaved people of Texas finally learned that they had been freed by Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation for more than two years. I support making this momentous event in our country's history a national holiday and join with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, who is spearheading this effort, to make it happen. I also commend Shelby County for making Juneteenth a paid holiday beginning next year."
On July 29, 2008, Congressman Cohen went to the House floor to deliver a speech encouraging his colleagues to pass a historic apology for slavery and Jim Crow-era discrimination. In his remarks, he said:
"Today we rectify that mistake. This is a symbolic resolution but hopefully it will begin a dialogue where people will open their hearts and their minds to the problems that face this country, from racism that exists in this country on both sides and which must end if we're to go forward as the country that we were created to be and which we are destined to be. So it is with great honor that I speak on this resolution and urge the members of this body to pass this historic resolution, recognize our errors, but also recognize the greatness of this country, because only a great country can recognize and admit its mistakes and then travel forth to create indeed a more perfect union that works to bring people of all races, religions and creeds together in unity as Americans, part of the United States of America."