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Press Release
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE (8/18/01) Contact:
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder & Chairman PRESIDENT
BUSH URGED TO ESTABLISH JUNETEENTH AS A National Holiday continue to urge President Bush to support their efforts at the 4th Annual National Juneteenth Convention & Expo at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario, California. Thousands of petitions have been sent to the White House requesting President Bush to issue a Presidential Proclamation recognizing Juneteenth Indepedence Day as a National Holiday Observance in America. President Bush, who refused to recognize Juneteenth at the White House this year, while hosting "Cinco de Mayo", a Mexican freedom celebration, addressing the nation in Spanish and English, still has not responded to numerous letters and request made by Juneteenth leaders from across the country. "As the former Governor of Texas, where Juneteenth is a paid state holiday, it is quite perplexing that President Bush will not respond to our request to establish a National Juneteenth Holiday." states Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Chairman of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF). "We are not asking for a paid federal holiday, but official recognition of the end of slavery in America. Juneteenth provides President Bush with an excellent opportunity to bring all Americans together to promote racial reconciliation and healing throughout the country." Congressman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) wrote President Bush in June, urging him to establish Juneteenth as a National Holiday. 'We hope that President Bush will 'do the right thing' for America and make Juneteenth a National Holiday," states Dr. Myers. "America needs healing from all that the legacy of slavery has inflicted upon generations of people since the "19th of June", 1865. As the leader of our nation, we pray that President Bush will humble himself and lead this nation toward healing." For information on the 4th Annual National Juneteenth Convention & Expo, contact John Thompson at 909-988-5810, e-mail: juneteentham@earthlink.net or websites: www.juneteenthamericainc.com, www.juneteenthconvention.com or www.juneteenthontario.com. For information on the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign contact Dr. Ron Myers at 662-247-1471, e-mail: MyersFound@aol.com or web sites: www.njof.org, www.19thofjune.com or www.juneteenthshoppingmall.com. |