by Brian Pruiett, vice chair, Clallam County Republican Party
June 15, 2021 – The Clallam County Republican Party has issued a statement supporting the recognition of Juneteenth day by a law signed by Washington’s Governor. The tragic tradition of slavery harmed our nation for centuries. Those politicians who supported slavery incited attacks against our republic and incited a civil war, formerly known as the War of The Rebellion.
Recognition of the injustice incurred on both those in slavery and the federal forces who lost their lives or sacrificed their physical health to fight for freedom should remain in our conscience in perpetuity. Any political party with a legacy of supporting slavery should be conscious of their liability to those who were subjected to slavery, but this legacy is not one for Clallam County.
Those who gave so much in fighting against slavery as members of the Grand Army of the Republic, came to Port Angeles and their families are still with us. Our families paid the price in blood and flesh for the freedom of all. Any who tear open those long-healed wounds with demands for reparations are not in consonance with the American way of life.
The Clallam County Republican Party condemns slavery in all forms, including human trafficking which is still ongoing. Our official statement follows:
STATEMENT OF THE CLALLAM COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
ON
JUNETEENTH AS A STATE/NATIONAL HOLIDAY
A CELEBRATION OF LIBERTY
On June 19th, 1865, United States Army General Gordon Granger announced to the people of Texas that all former slaves in Texas were no longer slaves but had been set free by Executive Proclamation known as the Emancipation Declaration. Starting the very next year in Texas and expanding to other states over the years, Juneteenth rapidly became the anniversary celebration of the liberation of slaves in the United States, the most immediate outcome of the U.S. Civil War.
The Clallam County Republican Party supports official designation of Juneteenth as a Washington State and Federal holiday. Several officially recognized holidays celebrate wars of liberation fought by citizen soldiers of the United States against tyranny, such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Even July 4th commemorates a war of independence. One could even argue that Christmas and Easter celebrate liberation over sin and death, and therefore, all American holidays celebrate liberation.
Thus, it is fitting that the Civil War in the United States has its own holiday. Since Juneteenth has been in place for 155 years in various forms and locations, and since the date is anchored in a historic fact that symbolizes the liberation accomplished in that war, we believe that Juneteenth should be honored as a state and national holiday and celebrated as such.
Republican abolitionists were at the forefront of movement to liberate slaves freed by the civil war. Republican lawmakers passed the Constitutional Amendments which corrected the institutionalization of slavery. Republican lawmakers passed the Civil Rights Acts which abolished the practice of unequal treatment of persons based on race. Juneteenth celebrates the historic sacrifice of Republicans at all levels to further the cause of liberty in America and across the world.
We fully support Juneteenth as a day to reflect and learn from this and other struggles in the cause of liberty.
Passed by the Clallam County Republican Party Central Committee on May 6, 2021.
State Party Chairman Caleb Heimlich shared thoughts about the celebration of Juneteenth as a holiday. Here’s what he says:
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day and Emancipation Day is the newest official American holiday, celebrated annually on the 19th of June in the United States to commemorate Union army general Gordon Granger’s reading of federal orders in the city of Galveston, Texas, on June 19th, 1865, proclaiming all slaves in Texas were now free. Slavery had legally ended with the emancipation proclamation in 1863 but news didn’t reached Galveston until 1865. Starting in 1866, there were community celebrations held to celebrate this day, many led by Black Republicans first in Texas then spreading across the country.
Today is an appropriate day to remember the rich history of the Republican Party in fighting for equal opportunity for all:
The Republican Party was founded in 1854 to abolish slavery. Our first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, issued the Emancipation Proclamation to free the slaves at the height of the Civil War leading to the defeat of the Confederacy and reunification of the nation.
Republicans passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution permanently abolishing slavery. Republicans passed the 14th Amendment granting citizenship and voting rights to black men. Republicans passed the 19th Amendment giving all women the right to vote.
Republicans in the US House and Senate, in far greater percentages than Democrats, passed the 1964 and 1968 Civil Rights Acts.The first 23 black members of Congress were all Republicans.
Washington State’s first African American legislator, Republican William Owen Bush, introduced the legislation that led to the creation of Washington State University.
Charles Stokes, another Republican, was the first African American elected to the Legislature from King County and later became a judge.
The Republican Party was founded on the principles of freedom and opportunity for all. We will continue to carry that legacy now and into the future as we strive to create a more perfect Union. God Bless America!
