In a split decision, the Montgomery County Commission voted down a resolution to establish Juneteenth as a legal paid holiday for Montgomery County government and its employees to begin June 19.
The vote that took place at the commission’s formal meeting Aug. 10 had more commissioners in favor of it, but lacked the 11 votes needed to pass the resolution.
Historic significance of June 19
Juneteenth celebrations commemorate freedom for African Americans, marking the end of slavery.
African-American men and women of Texas were kept in bondage for more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation went into effect.
In Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, enslaved men and women received word of general order No. 3 that proclaimed to the people of Texas, in accordance with the proclamation from the executive of the United States, all slaves were indeed free.
Montgomery County District 5 Commissioner Rashidah Leverett, who proposed the resolution, said the holiday would allow Montgomery County residents to celebrate their collective liberation.
The proposed resolution would have cost the county $226,500.
All offices would have been closed except for those who serve around the clock such as first responders, medical service providers and law enforcement.
At the commission’s formal Aug. 10 meeting, Commissioner Jason Knight offered an amendment to have the item placed at the top of the legislative liaison committee’s list, which was approved. A passionate plea by Leverett followed for the body to proceed with passage of the resolution presented.
“We can do this here; we can make history and bring equality and equity right here to Montgomery County,” Leverett said. “Then we can send it up to the state to show that Montgomery County is serious.”
Five failed motions to amend Juneteenth resolution
Commissioner Joshua Beal proposed an amendment that would have Juneteenth replace the county’s paid holiday on the Friday following Thanksgiving, saving the cost of creating a new holiday.
The motion failed.
Commissioner John Gannon said he supported Juneteenth but felt it was more of a federal and national holiday, and he would prefer the body send it to the state first for establishment of a holiday.
“If that doesn’t happen, we can always come back and revisit this,” Gannon said.
Gannon offered a motion to table the discussion until the state took action.
The motion failed.
Commissioner Lisa Prichard encouraged the commissioners to approve the paid county holiday for the citizens of Montgomery County.
“If we can’t vote on this here in Montgomery County, what makes you think they’ll vote on it in the state?” she asked. “We’re asking for at least 35% to 40% of the population of Montgomery County who celebrates this particular holiday. … This is something for us, but not for us color wise, and that’s the elephant [in the room], but for us – Montgomery countians, a diverse group. This is for us.”
For the county to maintain the same number of paid holidays, Commissioner Joe Smith presented a motion to swap another paid holiday for Juneteenth, but he added the decision of which holiday to exchange would be made “at the mayor’s discretion.”
“Commissioners, I would encourage each of you to vote no,” Mayor Jim Durrett said in answer to Joe Smith’s motion. “I think it’s a legislative item. You’re not going to put it on my back, I hope.”
The proposed amendment failed.
The next motion for an amendment came from Commissioner David Harper to add another day, a floating holiday, to honor women’s suffrage and passage of the 19th Amendment. The holiday would be awarded at the beginning of the fiscal year and be used at the employees’ discretion.
Harper’s amendment failed, but during the discussion of it, Commissioner Garland Johnson expressed frustration with the body of government and its direction.
“When did the Montgomery County Commission become a stage for farce and this ridiculous display?” Johnson asked. “Honestly, this is becoming embarrassing.”
Joe Smith made a third attempt to amend the resolution that would result in swapping out another holiday for Juneteenth, which again failed.
The original motion to have Juneteenth become a paid county holiday, amended with the placement of the issue at the top of the legislative liaison committee’s list of issues, also failed.
Though the votes were 10 yes and eight no votes with one abstention, the measure needed 11 votes to pass.
Commissioners Rickey Ray and Brandon Butts were absent.
Yes votes included Leverett, Carmelle Chandler, Joe Creek, Walker Woodruff, Beal, Chris Rasnic, Knight, Johnson, Jerry Allbert and Larry Rocconi.
No votes included Charles Keene, Joe Smith, Arnold Hodges, Tangi Smith, James Lewis, Prichard, Harper and Bryant.
Gannon abstained from voting.
The Link LonkAugust 20, 2020 at 10:00PM
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Divided commission prevents county Juneteenth holiday | News - Main Street Clarksville
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