WHEREAS, on June 19, 1862, the United States Congress abolished slavery in the Federal territories pursuant to the provisions of Chapter CXI-An Act to secure Freedom to all Persons within the Territories of the United States now existing, or which may at any time hereafter be formed or acquired by the United States; and

WHEREAS, Juneteenth, or June 19, 1865, is nationally recognized as the date when freedom was announced to some of the last slaves in America by General Gordon Granger, who arrived in Galveston, Texas and issued General Order Number Three, almost two-and-a-half years after President Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation, and President Harry S. Truman signed a bill in 1948 proclaiming February 1 National Freedom Day in honor of the Emancipation Proclamation, a first step in commemorating the freeing of slaves and freedom for all; and

WHEREAS, on June 14, 1866, slavery legally ended in all of America, the Oklahoma Territory, and the Federal Territories pursuant to four major treaties that were negotiated and formally signed; and

WHEREAS, for 153 years, Juneteenth Independence Day continues to be the most recognized African-American holiday observance, also known as Emancipation Day, Emancipation Celebration, Freedom Day, Jun-Jun, Juneteenth National Freedom Day and Juneteenth; and

WHEREAS, Juneteenth Independence Day commemorates the survival, due to God-given strength and determination, of African Americans through extreme adversity, hardship, and triumph, and Nevada is one of the 50 states to officially recognize Juneteenth Independence Day as a state holiday or observance; and

WHEREAS, Americans of all colors, creeds, cultures, religion and countries of origin, share in a common love and respect for freedom, as well as the determination to protect their right to freedom through the democratic institutions by which the tenets of freedom are guaranteed and protected; and

WHEREAS, Governor Lombardo signed legislation for Juneteenth National Independence Day as a Nevada State holiday on June 8, 2023;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOE LOMBARDO, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do hereby proclaim June 19, 2023 as

JUNETEENTH INDEPENDENCE DAY IN NEVADA