|
INDEX 09/22/1862 06/19/1865 02/28/00 09/23/00 12/15/00 04/11/94 01/06/01 02/18/01 02/24/01 03/09/01 03/14/01 03/15/01 03/16/01 03/17/01 03/19/01 03/22/01 03/25/01 03/30/01 04/01/01 04/03/01 04/04/01 04/19/01 04/25/01 05/28/01 05/31/01 06/09/01 01/18/02 05/23/02 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (5/9/02)
Contact: Dee Rush 414-873-9672 Stampley4Congress@yahoo.com Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., MD, Chairman National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC) 662-247-1471 202-331-8864 www.19thofJune.com www.njclc.com www.njof.org www.juneteenthconvention.com WI Congressional Candidate Stampley to Introduce National Juneteenth Holiday Bill (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) - Wisconsin Democratic Congressional candidate Dr. Nathaniel J. Stampley became the historic first candidate for national office to commit to introducing legislation to make Juneteenth Independence Day a National Holiday Observance in America. Stampley's announcement is great news for Juneteenth supporters in Milwaukee where one of the largest Juneteenth celebrations in the country takes place each year. National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign Chairman, Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., is a native of Milwaukee and welcomes the historic news. The campaign is not advocating for Juneteenth to become a paid state or federal holiday, but as a National Holiday Observance, similar to Flag Day. "Dr. Stampley is a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and when elected, he will be the first African-American to hold that office," states Dr. Myers, also chairman of the National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC) and the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF). "Dr. Stampley has already made history by becoming the first candidate for national office in U.S. history to commit to introducing legislation in Congress to make Juneteenth a National Holiday Observance. It will be interesting to see if other candidates for congress across the country make the same commitment." Juneteenth, or the "19th of June", recognizes June19, 1865, in Galveston, TX, when Union General Gordon Granger announced freedom for all slaves in the Southwest. This was the last major vestige of slavery in the United States following the end of the Civil War. This occurred more than two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed and enforced by President Abraham Lincoln. Upon the reading of General Order #3 by General Granger, the former slaves celebrated jubilantly, establishing America's second Independence Day Celebration and the oldest African-American holiday observance. "I remain a supporter for the National Juneteenth Observance around the country," states Dr. Stampley. "When elected I will introduce legislation for a National Juneteenth Holiday. African-Americans have contributed overwhelmingly to the construction of this nation." For information on the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign call Dr. Myers at 202-331-8864, 662-247-1471, e-mail: myersfound@aol.com, web sites: www.njof.org, www.19thofJune.com or www.njclc.com. Dr. Stampley can be reached at 414-873-9672 or e-mail: Stampley4Congress@yahoo.com. |