Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Civic Ceremony topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Newark proclaims June 19 as Juneteenth Freedom Day and hears remarks from community leaders
Summary
Mayor Michael Hamm presented a Juneteenth proclamation recognizing Opal Lee's activism; community speakers emphasized Juneteenth's meaning and called for continued work on justice, equity and inclusion.
Mayor Michael Hamm read a proclamation declaring June 19, 2025, Juneteenth Freedom Day in Newark and invited local community leaders to speak on the holiday's significance.
The proclamation recounted that on June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and that subsequent constitutional amendments between 1865 and 1870 changed the legal status of formerly enslaved people. The mayor noted the proclamation acknowledges "the resiliency, the strength, and spirit of African Americans" and encourages community events and education.
Jean Ficklin spoke about Opal Lee's long-running campaign to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, noting Lee walked 2.5 miles in many cities to represent the 2.5 years it took news of emancipation to reach Texas. Ficklin said Lee collected signatures from 1.5 million people and in 2021 was invited to Washington, D.C., where President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday.
Danielle Crannan Jones accepted the proclamation on behalf of the community and said, "Juneteenth is more than a date on the calendar. It is actually a symbol of freedom delayed but not denied." Jones added that Juneteenth should remind the city that "freedom is not just about law. It's about justice, equity, recognition, and opportunity, and that work continues."
