SR 5: Juneteenth; the history and meaning of the Juneteenth holiday; commemorate and recognize

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate rather than a law that changes anyone's legal rights or duties. It commemorates Juneteenth, the holiday marking June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned they were free more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The resolution recounts the history of slavery, emancipation, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, and the civil rights movement, and honors the contributions of Black Americans. It formally states that the Senate recognizes June 19, 2026 as a day of remembrance and renewed commitment to justice, affirms the importance of teaching this history honestly, and commits to protecting voting rights and opposing racial discrimination. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

• Formally commemorates Juneteenth and designates June 19, 2026 as a day of remembrance, reflection, celebration, and renewed commitment to justice.
• States the Senate's intent to honor Black Americans whose labor and leadership helped shape the nation's expansion of freedom.
• Affirms the importance of teaching and preserving the history of slavery, emancipation, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, and the civil rights movement.
• Commits Senate members to protecting civil rights, defending voting rights, and protecting the political power of Black Georgians and Black communities.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and the press.

This resolution primarily affects the Georgia Senate itself as a formal statement of its position, and speaks broadly to Black Georgians and Black communities, whose history and political power it addresses. It carries no direct legal obligations for individuals, businesses, or agencies.

Because this is a resolution rather than a bill amending Georgia statute, it creates no new legal rights, funding, or penalties. Its practical effect is symbolic: it puts the Senate on record about Juneteenth's meaning and about protecting voting rights and Black political power in future policy debates.

• The whereas clauses recount the history of Juneteenth, from the 1865 announcement in Galveston, Texas to the broader struggle for civil rights.
• The first resolving clause has the Senate commemorate Juneteenth and recognize June 19, 2026 as a day of remembrance and renewed commitment to justice.
• A further resolving clause affirms the importance of teaching the full history of slavery, emancipation, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, and the civil rights movement.
• A further resolving clause commits Senate members to protecting voting rights and the political power of Black Georgians, including opposing partisan gerrymandering that erodes that power.
• The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the public and press.

1. 2026-06-20Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
2. 2026-06-18Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)Primary sponsor
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
• Jaha Howard (D, SD-035)
• Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-005)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• Donzella James (D, SD-028)
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
• Josh McLaurin (D, SD-014)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)

• Juneteenth
• Black history
• voting rights
• civil rights
• legislative resolution