| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee | |
HB 1870
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Recognizing Juneteenth as a day of remembrance.
Sponsors: Representatives Pedersen, Ross, Lovick, Bailey, Hunt, Hasegawa, Pettigrew, Skinner, Flannigan, Darneille, Roberts, Newhouse, Hankins, Walsh, Appleton, Santos, Lantz, McCoy, Rodne, Schual-Berke, Ormsby, Upthegrove, Morrell, Kessler, Williams, Kenney, McDermott and Chase.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/20/07
Staff: Colleen Kerr (786-7168).
Background:
Juneteenth celebrations date back to 1865 when on June 19th, Union soldiers, led by Major
General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and the
enslaved were now free. This was two and a half years after President Lincoln's Emancipation
Proclamation became official on January 1, 1863.
The celebration of June 19th was soon coined "Juneteenth" and grew with participation from
descendants. Juneteenth continued to be highly revered in Texas, with many former slaves and
descendants making an annual pilgrimage back to Galveston. Initially, however, Juneteenth was
not celebrated outside African American communities. Most of the festivities were in rural areas
around rivers and creeks that could provide for additional activities such as fishing, horseback
riding and barbecues. Often the church grounds were used for Juneteenth celebrations.
Juneteenth began to gain prominence during the Civil Rights movement of the 1950's and 60's.
In 1968, the Reverend Ralph Abernathy celebrated Juneteenth at the Poor Peoples March to
Washington D.C. Many of these attendees returned home and initiated Juneteenth celebrations
in areas previously absent of such activity. The Juneteenth celebrations in Milwaukee and
Minneapolis, which are two of the largest celebrations, were founded after the Poor Peoples
March of 1968.
On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth became an official state holiday in Texas. In Texas it is
considered a "partial staffing holiday" meaning that state offices do not close but some
employees will be using a floating holiday to take the day off. Thirteen other states list it as an
official holiday, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Alaska, and California.
However, some of these states, such as Connecticut, do not consider it a legal holiday and do not
close government offices in observance of the occasion. Its informal observance has spread to
some other states, including Alabama, with a few celebrations even taking place in other
countries.
Summary of Bill:
June 19th is declared as a day of remembrance for the day the slaves learned of their freedom
and will be recognized as Juneteenth.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.