On the recordJune 15, 2017
As we reflect on our colleagues and pray for their speedy recovery, let me stop for a moment to pay tribute to a very special time in certain parts of the United States now being celebrated, really, across the land. As I go home this weekend, we will be celebrating, commemorating Juneteenth. As President Lincoln gave the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, my constituency's ancestors did not hear of the freeing of the slaves until more than 2\1/2\ years later when Major Granger landed in Galveston to announce that the slaves were free and emancipated. It is a serious time to honor those and the legacies of all of those who gave to this country, and we celebrate it with excitement and honor and dignity. Today, or this weekend, I am excited that we will rededicate the Emancipation Park. We will name the street Emancipation Street. We are delighted that the OST/Almeda TIRZ donated $33 million, along with foundations, to the city of Houston and community dollars. We will acknowledge those who bought the land, some many, many years ago, and this restoration will give the opportunity, not only for those in the Third Ward, where I am privileged to represent, and all of those heroes and sheroes, but it will be a park that will welcome everyone, from not only around the community and the city, but it will welcome those from across the Nation. Today, I introduce a Juneteenth resolution honoring Juneteenth with 51-plus sponsors.…
