HISTORY OF ILLINOIS JUNETEENTH COMMITTEE
NJOF late Founding President, Ronald ”Doc” Meyers, a Chicago native, began working with Sen. Durbin, a St. Clair Co. native in 2009. IJC continues the statewide legacy of his Juneteenth advocacy work today. From Forest Park's Mayor, Rory Hoskins and Cook Co.'s Senator Lightford, Sponsor of SB1965 to Chief Co-Sponsor, Senator Christopher Belt, a Cahokia Hts. and St. Clair Co. native and State Representative LaToya Greenwood an East St. Louis St. Clair Co. native. Senate Bill 1965 amends the State Commemorative Dates Act and provides that Juneteenth “National Freedom Day” be observed as a state holiday in Illinois. Through teamwork,
In April 2020, SB1965 passed the IL Senate with overwhelming support and is pending in the IL House. Through our advocacy and teamwork, IJC has offered testimony and witness slips in support of SB 1965. On June 19th, 2020, St. Clair County became the 1st County in IL to declared Juneteenth an official holiday. December 2020, Cook County became the largest county in the US to make Juneteenth a paid holiday for government employees. LEARN MORE ...
OFFICIAL IL JUNETEENTH COMMITTEE
