Pierce County Council Passes Resolution Recognizing Juneteenth

PIERCE COUNTY, WA — The county council has passed a resolution recognizing June 19th as Juneteenth for the first time in Pierce County.

At Tuesday's regularly scheduled county council meeting, Resolution No. R2021-91 received the approval of county council members and Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier, officially recognizing the holiday inside the county.

In April, the Washington Legislature passed a measure making Juneteenth a legal state holiday as well. Pierce County did beat most of the country to the punch, however: two days after the county passed its resolution, President Joe Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth the 12th federal holiday.

Related: Juneteenth: 5 Things To Know About The Newest Federal Holiday

The holiday originates from June 19, 1865, when Union Army general Gordon Granger delivered the Emancipation Proclamation to Texas, announcing the abolition of slavery two-and-a-half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the executive order. The formerly enslaved residents of Galveston celebrated Granger's announcement, a celebration that grew into the Juneteenth celebrations we now recognize today.

As Pierce County's resolution explains, the holiday is important because it "reminds us of the horrors of our country's past, commemorates African American freedom, acknowledges the resilience and determination that African Americans have shown, and pays homage to those who have paved the road to freedom in America."

The resolution ends by declaring June 19, 2021 Juneteenth, and asking residents to use the opportunity to think about the history of racial injustice in America:

"[A]ll Pierce County residents are encouraged to recognize the continued need to battle racism and to build a society that is more just, peaceful, and prosperous for all."

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