The Dumfries Town Council on Tuesday passed two resolutions, one condemning systemic racism and one that permanently established Juneteenth as an official calendar holiday for the town.

These resolutions come at a time of national unrest as racial issues are taking national headlines after the murder of George Floyd by four Minneapolis police officers and continuing attacks on peaceful protesters by police across the nation.

“America is currently experiencing a reckoning with the horrific truths of the history of the treatment of Blacks in America since brought here from Africa,” said Councilwoman Cydny Neville who introduced the resolutions. “This is painful, yet necessary, so that we can eventually reconcile and move forward as a nation that is truly united. Structural racism is deeply rooted in everything that is American; it must be dismantled and recreated equitably, piece by piece.”

Neville said she found it necessary for the Town to adopt a resolution to condemn systemic racism in alignment with other municipalities across the country and in alignment with the Black Lives Matter Movement.

“These resolutions and other progressive actions taken by the Council are steps in the right direction!” Neville added.

Juneteenth is a holiday that commemorates the liberation of those who had been held as slaves in the United States. It originated in Texas when word of the Emancipation Proclamation finally reached the state. It is now celebrated annually on the 19th of June throughout the United States, though it is not recognized as an official holiday in most states and localities.

“Our Council prides itself on ensuring history is taught accurately,” said Councilwoman Selonia Miles, who introduced the Juneteenth resolution along with Neville. “This resolution will open a dialog in our community so that we can discuss the fact that everyone didn’t gain their Independence on the 4th of July. Juneteenth is the day we were all truly free.”

Dumfries adopting these resolutions followed Governor Ralph Northam’s announcement on Tuesday that he intends to make Juneteenth an official state holiday in the Commonwealth of Virginia.