Title
Maryland Emancipation Day - For the purpose of supporting the establishment of November 1st as Maryland Emancipation Day; and generally relating to Maryland Emancipation Day.
Body
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
City of Annapolis
Resolution 67-20
Introduced by: Alderman Schandelmeier
Co-sponsored by: Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Pindell Charles,
Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderman Gay, Alderman Paone
A RESOLUTION concerning
Maryland Emancipation Day
FOR the purpose of supporting the establishment of November 1st as Maryland Emancipation Day; and generally relating to Maryland Emancipation Day.
WHEREAS, on November 1, 1864, Maryland adopted a new constitution that abolished slavery, making it the first state with slaves to voluntarily free its slaves by popular vote; and
WHEREAS, President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 had only freed slaves in rebel states, of which Maryland was not one; and
WHEREAS, Annapolis was a port where slaves such as Kunta Kinte were shipped to the New World; and
WHEREAS, on January 8, 2020, Senator Ellis introduced Senate Bill 76 for the purpose of establishing Maryland Emancipation Day as a State legal holiday, a public school holiday, a bank holiday, and a State employee holiday; and
WHEREAS, Senator Ellis intends to sponsor the same version of Senate Bill 76 during the 2021 legislative session; and
WHEREAS, the Annapolis City Council wishes to express its support for establishing November 1st as Maryland Emancipation Day.
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the City of Annapolis supports the establishment of November 1st as Maryland Emancipation Day, and encourages the Maryland General Assembly to establish November 1st as a State legal holiday, a public school holiday, a bank holiday, and a State employee holiday.
EXPLANATION
Underlining indicates matter added.
[Strikethrough] indicates matter stricken.