BILL ANALYSIS Ó ACR 87 Page 1 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING ACR 87 (Ridley-Thomas) As Introduced June 11, 2015 Majority vote ------------------------------------------------------------------ |Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------| |Rules |10-0 |Gordon, Chang, Burke, | | | | |Campos, Cooley, Dodd, | | | | |Mayes, Rodriguez, | | | | |Waldron, Wood | | | | | | | | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------ SUMMARY: Recognizes June 19, 2015, as the 150th anniversary of Juneteenth and urges the people of California to join in celebrating Juneteenth as a day to honor and reflect on the significant role that African Americans have played in the history of the United States and how they have enriched society through their steadfast commitment to promoting unity and equality. Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative findings: 1)Juneteenth, also known as "Juneteenth Independence Day," ACR 87 Page 2 "Emancipation Day," "Emancipation Celebration," and "Freedom Day," is the oldest African American holiday observance in the United States. 2)Juneteenth commemorates the strong survival instinct of African Americans who were first brought to this country stacked in the bottom of slave ships in a month-long journey across the Atlantic Ocean known as the "Middle Passage." 3)June 19, 1865, is considered the date when the last slaves in America were freed when General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3, almost two and a half years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. 4)Juneteenth symbolizes freedom, celebrates the abolishment of slavery, and reminds all Americans of the significant contributions of African Americans to our society. FISCAL EFFECT: None Analysis Prepared by: Nicole Willis / RLS. / (916) 319-2800 FN: 0000944 ACR 87 Page 3