Resolution 2020-31286R E SO L U T IO N N O . 2020-31286
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, COMMEMORATING JUNETEENTH, A HOLIDAY
CELEBRATING THE EMANCIPATION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO HAD
BEEN ENSLAVED IN THE UNITED STATES, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY
ADMINISTRATION TO CREATE SPECIAL PROGRAMMING TO
CELEBRATE THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN MIAMI BEACH.
WHEREAS, th e C ity of M ia m i B e a c h w a n ts to ac kn o w le d g e the va lu e of th e A fr ic a n
A m e ric a n co m m u n ity to M ia m i B e a c h o n F rid a y , Ju n e 19 , 2 0 2 0 , the 15 5 th a n n iv e rsa ry of
Jun e te en th , wi th sp e c ia l pro g ra m m in g ; a n d
WHEREAS, Jun e te e nt h , al s o kno w n as F re e d o m D a y , Ju b ile e D a y , Li b e ratio n D a y , a n d
E m a n c ip a tio n D a y , is th e old e st na tio n a lly ce le b ra te d co m m e m o ra tio n of th e e n d in g of sla v e ry in
th e U n ite d S ta te s ; a n d
WHEREAS, Ju n e te en th m ar ks a n d ce le b rate s Ju n e 19 , 18 6 5 , w he n , ov e r tw o ye a rs aft e r
th e E m a n c ip a tio n P ro c la m a tio n , e n s la v e d A fr ic a n A m e rica n s in T e xa s w e re to ld by U n io n tro o p s
th a t the A m e ric a n C iv il W a s ha d e n d e d a n d tha t th e e n sla v e d pe o p le w e re no w fr e e ; a n d
WHEREAS, ce le b ra tio n s of Jun e te en th da te ba c k to 18 6 6 , fi rst in v o lv in g ch u rch -c e nte re d
co m m u n ity ga th e rin g s in T e x a s , a n d th e n sp re a d in g sp re a d a c ro ss th e S o u th a n d be co m in g m o re
co m m e rcia liz e d in th e 19 2 0 s a n d 19 3 0 s , oft e n ce n te rin g o n a fo o d fe stiv a l; a n d
WHEREAS, d u rin g the C iv il R ig h ts m o v e m e n t of the 19 6 0 s, Jun e te en th cel eb ra ti on s w e re
e c lip se d by th e strug g le fo r po stw a r civ il rig h ts, bu t gre w in po p u la rity ag a in in the 19 7 0 s w ith a
fo c us o n A fr ic a n A m e ric a n fr e e d o m a n d a rt s; a n d
WHEREAS, Jun e te en th to d a y, a c kn o w le d g e s A fr ic a n A m e ric a n fr e e d o m a n d
a c h ie v e m e n t, w h ile e n c o u ra g in g co n tin u o u s se lf-d e v e lo p m e n t a n d re sp e ct fo r a ll cu ltu re s , a n d is
ce le b ra te d in m a n y m a jo r citie s in th e U n ite d S tate a n d is re co g n iz e d as a state ho lid a y in 4 7 of
th e 5 0 state s; a n d
WHEREAS, g iv e n the re ce n t pu b lic pro te sts a n d de m o n stra tio n s a g a in st po lic e bru ta lity
a n d fo r ra c ia l ju s tic e a n d eq u a lity in the U n ite d S tate s , Ju n e te en th is a n o p p o rt u n e da te fo r M ia m i
B e a c h to kn o w le d g e a n d ce le b ra te th e im p o rt a n c e of th e A fr ic a n A m e ric a n co m m u n ity to th e
histo ry , pre se n t a n d futu re of M ia m i B e a c h ; a n d
WHEREAS, th e C ity A d m in istra tio n ha s pre p a re d co n c e p ts to re sp e ctf u lly a n d
m e a n in g fully ce le b ra te A fric a n A m e ric a n life in M ia m i B e a c h a n d be a fo rce fo r cha n g e in clu d in g ,
bu t no t lim ite d to :
• A m o m e n t of sile n c e a n d the pla n tin g of a sy m b o lic tre e in P rid e P a rk; th e tre e w ill
re p re se nt th e life of the A fr ic a n A m e ric a n co m m u n ity in M ia m i B e a c h , sy m b o liz e th a t
w ith th e g ro w th of th e tre e , so w ill the co m m u n ity , a n d a s th e tre e ro o ts dig de e p , so
w ill th e im p a c t a n d co n trib u tio n s of th e co m m u n ity ; th e tre e w ill se rve as a pla c e of
re fle ctio n , ce le b ratio n , m e d ita tio n a n d prid e ;
• M ia m i B e a c h B u sin e ss D istric t H isto ric a l M om e n ts - th e cre a tio n of po le ba n n e rs
illu stra tin g th e histo ry of A fric a n A m e ric a n life in M ia m i B e a c h ; dis p la y the ba n n e rs
periodically on Washington Avenue, Lincoln Road and other notable locations when
appropriate and available;
• Promote conversations on racism, diversity and unity - create programming for the
Miami Beach community on recruiting, nurturing, supporting and promoting talented
Black employees; develop Human Resources programs to create a pathway for
diversifying leadership; and invite Miami Beach leadership, grantees, and stakeholders
to engage in conversation on ending racism and embedding unity; and
• Promote being a voice of change - partner with a nonprofit to promote Voter
Registration for Miami Beach employees and residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby commemorate Juneteenth, a holiday celebrating the emancipation of African
Americans who had been enslaved in the United States, and authorize the City Administration to
create special programming to celebrate the African American community in Miami Beach.
PASSED and ADOPTED this /8 day or Jure_, 2020.
ATTEST:
. Granado
ity Clerk
Dan Gelber
Mayor
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DAS TO
NGUAGE
CUTION