Council Vote Recognizes Juneteenth, Start Reparations Commission

CHICAGO — Aldermen approved a resolution Wednesday recognizing the significance Juneteenth, a celebration of June 19, 1865,when U.S. troops were sent to free slaves in Texas more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

The resolution introduced by aldermen Maria Hadden (49th) and David Moore (17th) established June 19th as an annual day of observance reflecting on the "suffering endured by early African Americans, promote public awareness and celebrate African-American freedom and achievement.”

Last year, Hadden and Moore tried to establish Juneteenth as a paid city holiday that failed due to budget constraints. The move declaring an annual day of observance on June 19th could clear the way for establishing Juneteenth as a city as an official city holiday in the future. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she would talk with aldermen about establishing Juneteenth as a city holiday in the future.

Ald. Leslie Hairston spoke passionately in support of the designation for 8 minutes and 46 seconds — the length of time a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on the neck of George Floyd, who died while in police custody. The 5th Ward alderman called for continued protests inspired by Floyd's death.

"If people don't understand why black people are angry, why they are protesting, why they are rioting, it is because we have been dismissed. ... We are just ignored. Lot of companies

"We have to do more, and Chicago I need you to do more. We need to do more for the implicit bias. ... I am angry and I don’t apologize for that because I have been discriminated against my whole life," she said, mentioning a job interview for an associate position at a law firm where she was "whether I type?"

"We're gonna fight. And I encourage the protestors to continue. Don't stop. Don't stop. Black lives matter. Black lives matter."

Hairston chastised two City Council colleagues, without naming them, for appearing in news interviews with boxes of popcorn in defense of officers caught on video allegedly lounging in U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush's campaign office while nearby businesses were looted.

"It was insensitive and inappropriate to do so with boxes of popcorn, making light of a bad situation, of a horrendous situation," she said. "I don't think they would have liked it one bit if the looting was going on in their neighborhood, and we came and brought lawn chairs and popcorn to watch the destruction of the community. That is not acceptable. We will not be dismissed. And how dare the media and everyone else ignore it and sweep it under the rug. ... This is the implicit bias people are talking about. ... It means you don't get it."

Black caucus chairman Ald. Jason Ervin called the resolution a starting point. "To get some things we have never had, we need to do some things we have never done," he said at Wednesday's virtual City Council meeting.

Later, the City Council voted to establishing a “Chicago Citizens of African Descent Reparations Commission" to determine how the city could address the impact of slavery on black Chicagoans.

Ald. Nicholas Spozato and Anthony Napolitano were the only no votes on the measure.