|
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (6/28/09) Contact: Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Chairman National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC) 662-247-3364 662-247-1471 e-mail: JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com web sites: www.19thofJune.com www.Juneteenth.us www.njclc.com www.JuneteenthJazz.com Clark Jones Washington Juneteenth Committee National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC) 301-925-0008 e-mail: clarkjones88@gmail.com web site: www.njclc.com
Report From
2009 WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance Photos from 2009 WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance 
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D. Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Chairman of the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign, returned to the nation's capitol for the ten year anniversary of the WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance. Known as the "Modern Juneteenth Movement" in America, a group of Juneteenth state leaders and supporters of the campaign were encouraged by the meetings and activities centered around Juneteenth Independence Day in Washington, DC.
From
www.Juneteenth.us:
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
National Juneteenth Congressional Symposium & Reception Hosted By: The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Rayburn House Office Building Rooms B339-B340 Washington, DC 4:00pm - 6:30pm Juneteenth CBC Congressional Symposium 6:30pm - 8:00pm Juneteenth CBC Congressional Reception Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Master of Ceremonies
 Congressman Bobby Scott  Congressman Danny Davis & Dr. Larry Ridley, Executive Director of the African American Jazz Caucus discuss Juneteenth Jazz 
"June Is Black Music Month!" CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH JAZZ "Preseving Our African American Jazz Legacy!" www.JuneteenthJazz.com 
Dr. Larry Ridley, Executive Director of the African American Jazz Caucus and Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D. Chairman of the National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters (NAJJP), urged the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) to support Juneteenth Jazz. 
Margaret Nana Yaa Baker performedAfrican dance at the CBC Juneteenth Reception
From
www.Juneteenth.us:
Nationally recognized Bogalusa artist Alvin Carter works on a piece he will present to President Barack Obama on 'Juneteenth,' June 19, in Washington D.C. Carter will have an Open House, exhibit and registration for his summer art classes Saturday at his studio, just off Columbia Street on E. 4th Street. DAILY NEWS PHOTO/Marcelle Hanemann
"As the leader of the 'Modern Juneteenth Movement' in America, I would like to express
our sincere appreciation and thanks to Congressman Danny Davis, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Senator Roland Burris, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Congressman Bobby Scott, Congresswoman Donna Christensen, all members and staff of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) for their participation and support for our 10th annual, 2009 WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance at the U.S. Capitol. We have come a mighty long way in ten years." Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder & Chairman National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC)
Friday, the "19th of June", 2009
10th Annual National Day of Reconciliation and Healing from the Legacy of Enslavement "3rd Friday in June" www.njclc.com/pressrelease.htm National Juneteenth Prayer Breakfast National Press Club Washington, DC www.njclc.com/pressrelease1.htm 
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D. Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., leader of the "Modern Juneteenth Movement" and the Founder and Chairman of the National Day of Reconciliation and Healing from the Legacy of Enslavement accepted the Apology For Slavery from the Congress of the United States with a "Statement of Unconditional Forgiveness" during the National Juneteenth Prayer Breakfast at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
Washington Post
Senate Backs Apology for Slavery Resolution Specifies That It Cannot Be Used in Reparations Cases By Krissah Thomas June 19, 2009
U.S. Senate Apology For Slavery
(Unanimously passed on 6/18/09) 
Pastor Jack Gaines delivering an inspiring message on "Juneteenth & Biblical Reconciliation"
Asst. United Nations Secretary General Luc Gnacadja delivered an inspiring statement following up on the results of the 1999 Benin Leadership Conference on Reconciliation and Development that was initiated by former Benin President Mathieu Kérékou. Secretary Gnacadja challenged the nations of the world to consider the model of Biblical Reconciliation that was instrumental in resolving deep conflicts and creating opportunities for economic development in Benin, Africa. 
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D. & Pastor Jack Gaines Rev. Dr. Ron Myers & Pastor Jack Gaines, author of the recent book, "My Brother's Keeper, Not My Brother's Killer", released on the "19th of June", 2009, at the National Juneteenth Prayer Breakfast at the National Press Club. Pastor Gaines gave a moving message on "Juneteenth & Biblical Reconciliation" during the early morning event. 
Click above to purchase a copy of "My Brother's Keeper Not My Brother's Killer" by Pastor Jack Gaines 
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D. and Pastor Jack Gaines were also among the key African American leaders who worked closely with former Congressman Tony Hall (D-OH) on the historic introduction of legislation for the Apology for Slavery before the Congress of the United States. This was the historic beginning of the National Day of Reconciliation and Healing from the Legacy of Enslavement. Rev. Dr. Myers is sending letters to world leaders urging their support for the establishment of a World Day of Reconciliation and Healing beginning in 2010, on the "3rd Friday in June", an extension of the National Day of Reconciliation and Healing from the Legacy of Enslavement resulting from the Atlantic Slave Trade. Pastor Gaines was also instrumental in organizing the historic visit of Mathieu Kérékou, President of Benin, a West Coast African nation, central in the histric Atlantic Slave Trade, to the United States, in 1999, announcing an Apology to African Americans for the role African leaders in Benin played in selling their own people to the Europeans during the tyranny of enslavement. President Kérékou returned to Africa to host the historic 1999 Benin Reconciliation Conference that included African heads of state, representatives of the U.S. Congress, traditional African elders and U.S. citizens joined together in apologies and forgiveness from slavery. In July of 2008, Congressman Steve Cohen was the sponsor of legislation for the U.S. House of Representatives Apology for Slavery. On June 18, 2009, during the WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance, Senator Tom Harkin sponsored legislation for the U.S. Senate Apology for Slavery.
From the historical archives of
www.njclc.com:
Historic Congressional Apology for Slavery
Rev. Dr. Myers seen to the right of Congressman Tony Hall (D-OH) during the historic announcement of legislation for a Congressional Apology for Slavery on "Juneteenth" 6/19/00. Charisma Magazine U.S. House Member Renews Call for Apology for Slavery by Adrienne S. Gaines September, 2000 African Leader Atones For the Legacy of Slavery 
In 1999 Benin President Mathieu Kérékou called for a historic gathering of spiritual leaders to atone--to Africans of the Diaspora--for the legacy of slavery. His intention was to heal his nation of any economic and spiritual famine caused by slavery, oppression and injustice. 
Charisma Magazine The Apology That Shook A Continent by Addrienne Gaines March, 2000 Charisma Magazine A Prophetic Perspective by Mark Pollard November, 2000 Charisma Magazine The History America Chose to Forget by Valerie G. Lowe November, 2000 Charisma Magazine Let Forgiveness Come First by Jack Gaines November, 2000 "In the year 2000, the 'Modern Juneteenth Movement' was the grass roots African American national group that worked closely with former Congressman Tony Hall on the second introduction of historic legislation for the U.S. Congress to officially apologize for slavery, on the '19th of June' at the nation's capitol. This was during our first WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance and National Day of Reconciliation and Healing from the Legacy of Enslavement. By the grace of God through ten years of hard work and prayers, urging the congress and the president to support the work and mission of the 'Modern Juneteenth Movement' in America, the nation is moving much closer toward healing and reconciliation from the scars of enslavement." Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder & Chairman National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC) National Juneteenth Black Holocaust "Maafa" Memorial Service Lincoln Park United Methodist Church Washington,DC www.njclc.com/pressrelease.htm 
BARBARA L. SALISBURY/THE WASHINGTON TIMES People hold hands as a sign of solidarity at a service at Lincoln Park United Methodist Church in the District on Friday to commemorate Juneteenth and the Maafa, or Africa Holocaust (6/20/08) Theme: "A Time to Heal, A Time to Pray" During the 2009 National Juneteenth Black Holocaust "Maafa" Memorial Service, Pastor Jack Gaines delivered an encouraging message on "Juneteenth & Biblical Reconciliation" and how Juneteenth is strategically positioned to model reconciliation and healing to the world. 
Pastor Johnnie Hunter Pastor Johnnie Hunter, President of L.E.A.R.N., announced the release of the DVD, "MAAFA 21", which was inspired by the words given by Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D. at the 2008 National Juneteenth Black Holocuast "Maafa" Memorial Service. The term "Maafa" (from the book, "Let the Circle Be Unbroken", by Dr. Marimba Ani) is a kiswahili term for "terrible occurrence" or "great disaster" that African Americans have embraced to tell our own story about enslavement and attempts to dehumanize us. 
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Baptist Medical Missionary and Family Practitioner, serving in the poorest geographic region in America, the Mississippi Delta, sounded the alarm about the little known tragic "negative population growth" of African Americans because of the modern day "Maafa" of death and destruction that Dr. Myers referred to as "Black Genocide."
Saturday, June 20, 2009 Prince George's County Juneteenth Celebration Walker Mill Regional Park District Heights, MD 
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., receives a special Juneteenth Proclamation from Councilman Samuel H. Dean of Prince George's County Council 
Dandre Carnegie, 3, of Forestville, takes a pony ride at the Juneteenth celebration Saturday at Walker Mill Regional Park in District Heights. Photo by Christopher Anderson
Gazette.net - Maryland Community Newspapers Online
Juneteenth celebration spirit not dampened by weather By Ben Giles June 25, 2009 Sunday, June 21, 2009 National Juneteenth Father's Day Sunday Morning Worship Service Vermont Avenue Baptist Church Rev. Cornelius Wheeler, Pastor 
Vermont Avenue Baptist Church was one of the historic African American churches in Washington, DC that was founded by former slaves 
Getty Images Photo
"President Obama was unable to attend any 2009 WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance activities.
We are anxiously awaiting his response to the thousands of petitions and letters sent to the White House concerning the establishment of Juneteenth Independence Day as a National Day of Observance. Let us continue to pray for President Obama, especially his staff, who have the responsibility to keep him informed daily on issues important to African Americans." Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder & Chairman National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC)
From
www.Juneteenth.us:
Myers urges President Obama to issue a Presidential Proclamation to establish Juneteenth as a National Holiday Observance in America (Letter to President Obama) From www.JuneteenthJazz.com: Myers urges President Obama to support Juneteenth Jazz during Black Music Month in June through the performance of the AAJC/HBCU Student All-star Big Band at the annual WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance (Letter to President Obama) From www.njclc.com Myers invites President Obama to speak at the annual National Juneteenth Black Holocaust "Maafa" Memorial Service in Washington, DC (Letter to President Obama) 
Festival goers sign a petition to spread the Juneteenth tradition across the nation.
News 8 Austin, TX
Festival goers petition to make Juneteenth a national holiday By Bonnie Gonzalez June 20, 2009 |
