Franklin TV: Juneteenth, Take 2!

Let us all be thankful – and free.

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 06/19/2022

This Monday is the second Juneteenth officially recognized as a federal holiday in the U.S. All federal government offices, federal courts, banks, post offices, schools, and U.S. financial markets will be closed. This year, the Juneteenth holiday will be observed in the U.S. on Monday, June 20. It is officially African American Independence Day.

Although President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation officially abolished slavery in January 1863, it would be over two years before the Civil War ended in April 1865, and even longer before the news spread to all parts of the U.S. June 19 approximates the day that General Granger and his troops landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and that the last of enslaved African Americans were free. Originating in Galveston, the holiday has been celebrated in various parts of the U.S. since the 1860s. It was finally recognized as a federal holiday last year, in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.

Just as July Fourth celebrates our Declaration of Independence, Juneteenth celebrates an equally important document, The Emancipation Proclamation, which truly completes the universal intent of our Declaration – freedom for everyone.

And – as always –

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. 

And, thank you for watching.

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf   

Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)

Juneteenth Celebration - June 18 - 2 PM

An open mic event. Community members of all ages welcome. Come learn, listen, and engage.

At the Franklin Public Library, Saturday, June 18 at 2 PM.

Juneteenth Celebration - June 18 - 2 PM

Shared from the Franklin Public Library page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/bulletins/juneteenth-celebration-open-mic-event

wfpr.fm: More Perfect Union - 026 - Tulsa & Juneteenth

"In this episode, Frank and the group discuss the history of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Texas, the history of Juneteenth, and the recent developments on the legislative push to make Juneteenth a nationally recognized holiday."

Direct link ->  https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ea84ae12-18eb-4bf8-b186-5b26f7ef0d52

 

wfpr.fm: More Perfect Union - 026 - Tulsa & Juneteenth

Franklin TV: "The Dawning of a New Day? Juneteenth – Looking back, looking forward"

"As I sit in my office staring at a sunrise on a Saturday morning, musing and typing away, it is literally the dawn of a new day. A lovely day.

It’s also a brand-spankin’-new federal holiday.  It is officially –   Juneteenth.

This day commemorates June 19, 1865, when, more than a month after the last battle of the Civil War, Union soldiers informed the slaves of Galveston, Texas that they were at last emancipated. The date has been celebrated by black Americans ever since; first in Texas and eventually throughout the US. Whether you call Juneteenth Emancipation Day, Freedom Day or our second Independence Day, Juneteenth is one of the most important anniversaries in our nation's history.

There are those among us who cringe and fret over a holiday that calls attention to the past – to the darkest days of our nation’s history. I submit for consideration that every holiday has its rai·son d'ê·tre – a profound purpose to be fulfilled.

We celebrate – on July 4th – This year the festival returns to Franklin.

We commemorate – on Memorial Day- and honor those who served our country. 

We rededicate – with each New Year – resolving to advance our better natures.

Now on every Juneteenth, let us not only commemorate long delayed independence of all, but embrace the opportunity to accelerate the just and equal enjoyment of that independence for all. Let Juneteenth lean forward into a better future. Let Juneteenth ask its essential perennial question, “How can we all work to eliminate pernicious systemic racism and advance genuine social and economic justice and true equality for everyone?”

We should all see Juneteenth as more than a ‘black holiday’, but a joyful journey for all of us toward the perfection of “freedom and justice for all”.

Let Juneteenth be an action item. In the fullness of time every Juneteenth will come to represent the dawn of a new day. A lovely day – for everyone.

And –  as always –
Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. 

And, thank you for watching. "

Pete Fasciano, Executive Director  

Get this week's program guide for Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online

http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf  or for archive purposes

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o2iKB81-cWp21AquK-2YpvgqQOzmaiUH/view?usp=sharing

Franklin TV: "The Dawning of a New Day? Juneteenth – Looking back, looking forward"

Special Edition of Panther News explores #JuneTeenth2021 (video)

"Friday's special edition of Panther News explores #JuneTeenth2021. Thanks to @DiversityFHS for collaborating with us!! @FranklinHS @FranklinPSNews @FHSPantherbook @kiannathomasx @FranklinMatters"  https://t.co/PbvTmv4NAD via @YouTube

(https://twitter.com/fhspanthertv/status/1403046886118989826?s=03)

Direct YouTube link -> https://youtu.be/cRAXTOV8r38

Gov Baker signs funding bill and Juneteenth holiday legislation

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday morning signed the $1.1 billion COVID-19 spending bill sent to his desk last week, though he vetoed sections dealing with past MassHealth payments and a program spending floor. 

The bill (H 4808) included hundreds of millions of dollars for some of the more obvious COVID-19 costs, like $350 million for personal protective equipment, $85 million spent on field hospitals and shelters, $44 million for the contact tracing collaborative, and more than $111 million in supplemental payments to hospitals and providers. 

The Baker administration has said that many of the pandemic-related appropriations will be mostly reimbursed by the federal government, and the governor urged the Legislature to act quickly, saying that Massachusetts is in a race with other states to access a limited pool of resources available for reimbursement. 

“Now that this authorization is in place, state agencies can finalize the documentation needed to secure federal reimbursement where available, in particular from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),” Baker wrote in his signing letter. “Federal reimbursement will be supplemented with other federal funding sources, including but not limited to money from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. As such, the net state cost is expected to be $0.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200724/baker-signs-11b-covid-19-spending-bill?rssfeed=true


Gov Baker's letter to the Legislators with his approval and disagreement on two points of funding  https://www.mass.gov/doc/h4808-signing-package/download


Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) tweeted at 0:21 PM on Fri, Jul 24, 2020:

Today I signed a supplemental budget bill that authorizes #COVID19MA spending and also establishes #Juneteenth Independence Day as an annual state holiday on June 19 in order to recognize the continued need to ensure racial freedom and equality.

➡️READ: https://t.co/xg3iTJbjlu https://t.co/ZqIQBULeRo
(https://twitter.com/MassGovernor/status/1286698008625676289?s=03)

Gov Baker signs funding bill and Juneteenth holiday legislation