June 3, 2024 council adoption minutes
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June 03, 2024 7:00 PM City of Smyrna Mayor and Council Meeting 2800 King Street SE Council Chambers Page 6 of 7 D. ATH2024-087 Authorization for the submittal of the Local Administered Project (LAP) certification application to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), and authorize the Mayor to sign the “Confirmation of Understanding” letter, the “GDOT LAP Certification Application.” Citywide This item was approved on the Consent Agenda. 11. Ward and Staff Reports A. PRC2024-016 Proclamation in recognition of Juneteenth, June 19, 2024 Ward 2 Councilmember – Latonia P. Hines Ward 7 Councilmember – Rickey N. Oglesby, Jr. Jeriene Bonner-Willis, President of the Cobb County NAACP, came forward to announce the countywide celebrations taking place in honor of Juneteenth. She was present to accept the proclamation. Councilmember Rickey N. Oglesby, Jr. read and presented the following proclamation: A PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SMYRNA In Recognition of Juneteenth June 19, 2024 Whereas, Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is celebrated each year on June 19th in the United States to commemorate the end of slavery; and Whereas, though the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 1863, it had minimal immediate effect on most slaves' day-to-day lives, particularly in Texas, which was almost entirely under Confederate control; and Whereas, Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves; and Whereas, Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery. The celebration of June 19th was coined "Juneteenth" and grew with more participation from descendants. Juneteenth today celebrates African American freedom while encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures; and Whereas, on June 17, 2021, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed into law, which established Juneteenth as an official federal holiday; and Whereas, the City of Smyrna approved the observance of Juneteenth as an official city holiday in 2022. In recognizing the holiday of Juneteenth in the City of Smyrna, we acknowledge the challenges, successes, tribulations, and perseverance of all those who lived during these periods in our history; Now Therefore, I, Derek Norton, Mayor of the City of Smyrna, Georgia, do hereby proclaim June 19, 2024, as Juneteenth in the City of Smyrna and encourage the community to join the commitment for anti-racism, racial and social justice, by encouraging a day of reflection, recognition, acknowledgement, and healing.