HR1223 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1223 LRB095 20857 GRL 49674 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to acknowledge the celebration of Emancipation Day in the District of Columbia; and

WHEREAS, The municipality of Washington D.C. celebrates April 16 of every year as Emancipation Day; on April 16, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia; the Act, along with the Supplemental Compensated Emancipation Act, freed approximately 3,100 enslaved persons in the District of Columbia nine months before President Lincoln issued his famous Emancipation Proclamation, which presaged the eventual end of slavery to the rest of the nation; the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act represents the only example of compensation by the federal government to former owners of emancipated slaves; and

WHEREAS, On January 4, 2005, Washington D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams signed legislation making Emancipation Day an official public holiday in the District of Columbia; each year, a series of activities is held during the public holiday, including the traditional Emancipation Day parade celebrating the freedom of enslaved persons in the District of Columbia; the Emancipation Day celebration was held yearly from 1866 to 1901, then experienced a hiatus until 1991, when the celebration was revived by DC Reading is Fundamental; the Emancipation Day celebration was formally resumed as a tradition and historic celebration in 2002 as a direct result of years of research, lobbying, and leadership by Ms. Loretta Carter-Hanes; and

WHEREAS, The celebration of Emancipation Day is a wonderful display of the value of human freedom and equality for this State, the nation, and the world at large; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we acknowledge the celebration of Emancipation Day in the District of Columbia and wish the residents of Washington D.C. a happy and safe celebration of this holiday; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty as a symbol of our esteem and respect.