Paterson BOE Commissioner Emmanuel Capers submitted a Juneteenth resolution to be voted on by the BOE.

Capers said “I am proud that Paterson Public School District is ahead of most districts when it comes to the implementation of the Amistad curriculum. But we still have a long way to go I thinks we need to change African American history on how  teach our students not only how the country has oppressed black people, but also how black Americans helped build this nation through their labor, artistry, and ongoing struggle for equality. The curriculum should also provide some historical context for the latest acts of police violence, including the killing of George Floyd, a black Minneapolis man whose death last month in police custody ignited widespread protests. It could also help students understand how structural racism contributes to the health disparities that have made black Americans, along with Latino and indigenous people.”

Paterson Public Schools
Juneteenth Resolution

INTRODUCED June 13th, 2020
Sponsored by:
Commissioner: Emanuel Capers

SYNOPSIS
Calls on PPS to honor Juneteenth Independence Day and close the district.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.

Resolution : calling on Paterson Public Schools to celebrate Juneteenth Independence Day and close the district.

WHEREAS, Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the abolition of slavery in the United States and the oldest African-American holiday observance; and
WHEREAS, The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, the day Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and the enslaved were free, creating cause for jubilant celebrations that evolved into a general celebration of freedom; and
WHEREAS, Celebration of Juneteenth is generally marked by family gatherings, picnics, prayers and speakers, and is a time for education and encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures; and
WHEREAS, As an emancipation celebration, Juneteenth was first given official state recognition in 1980 when Texas made it an official state holiday and a campaign exists today to establish Juneteenth as a national holiday; and
WHEREAS, Paterson Public Schools , in recognition of the historical and cultural significance of Juneteenth, and in order to foster respect for all cultures, officially June 19th as “Juneteenth Independence Day”
WHEREAS, Juneteenth continues to enjoy growing interest, recognition, and celebration among organizations and communities throughout the country, with Juneteenth-centered activities having been sponsored by such institutions as the Smithsonian Museum and the Henry Ford Museum; and
WHEREAS, Throughout New Jersey, towns and cities organize festivities to reflect on and rejoice in the freedom, opportunity, and cultural respect associated with Juneteenth; and
WHEREAS, It is fitting and proper for Paterson Public Schools to close on for a day in June and celebrate Juneteenth Independence Day.

BE IT RESOLVED

1.    The board calls the District to close and celebrate Juneteenth Independence Day

STATEMENT

This Resolution  calls on Paterson Public Schools  to celebrate Juneteenth Independence Day and close the district.  Juneteenth Independence Day, also known as Juneteenth, is the oldest known celebration of the abolition of slavery in the United States as well as the oldest known African-American holiday observance.  The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865 when Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were free.  Jubilant celebrations ensued which eventually evolved into a general celebration of freedom.
Celebration of Juneteenth is generally marked by family gatherings, picnics, prayers and speakers, and is a time for education and encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures.  Since 2004, the State of New Jersey has officially recognized the third Saturday in June as “Juneteenth Independence Day.”  Juneteenth continues to enjoy growing interest, recognition, and celebration among organizations and communities throughout the country, including a number of towns and cities in New Jersey that organize Juneteenth festivities in order to reflect on and rejoice in the freedom, opportunity, and cultural respect associated with the holiday.