PULASKI COUNTY, Ark — On Thursday, June 18, Pulaski County Judge and Chief Executive Officer Barry Hyde proclaimed Juneteenth as a day of remembrance, reflection and celebration in Pulaski County.
On June 19, 1865, the U.S. Army marched into Galveston, Texas and delivered General Order Number 3, declaring “all slaves are free.” It took two and a half years for news of President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, issued in 1863, to reach Texas.
That joyous day in June 1865 became known as Juneteenth.
"The contributions of African Americans enrich every facet of life in Pulaski County and across this county," Judge Hyde declared in the proclamation. "The foundational promise of the United States, that all people are created equal, is not fully realized for many people. Recent events remind us that work remains to resolve systemic injustices, ensuring that the laws of every locality, every state and this nation are designed to ensure equality under the law, especially without regard to race. COVID-19 has taken its toll on the communities of Pulaski County, giving reason for all of us to pause and reflect on what matters most. We must reflect on the past in order to get a better sense of how to shape our future."
In recognition of Juneteenth, all Pulaski County buildings will be closed on June 19, 2020.