Joseph Mancuso, PIO GIP Fellow
Commissioner John Price, speaking for the Dallas County Commissioners Court, reflected upon and commemorated the history of the civil war and slavery on June 18, the day before the 148th ‘Juneteenth Independence Day.’
While the emancipation proclamation was issued by President Lincoln in 1863, freeing slaves in the United States, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced the end of the war to the last of the Confederate forces, formally eradicating slavery from the United States. Former slaves in the Southwest celebrated the anniversary of their freedom, June 19, as ‘Juneteenth.’
“This court is in lockstep with the movement of the U.S. Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus and American of all genders, races and creeds who respect the integrity of our history as a nation,” Price said.