GREETINGS FELLOW DEMOCRATS!





It’s summer but it’s cool at the Brazos Bomber’s Baseball Stadium!

So on Sunday July 13, the Democrats are having a party on the party deck—hot dogs, sodas, chips! The all American experience. $12 for the party and tickets to the game—what a deal.

This is great PR for our party and a wonderful time to socialize as we prepare for the election.

Linda checked out the scene and it’s a great party venue—and as your social chair, she should know—right? So call in your reservation soon. The deadline is Monday, July 7 by noon. Call 779-5600.

For more on the Bombers visit: http://www.bvbombers.com





REMINDER: BVCAW MEETING ON THURSDAY

The Brazos Valley Coalition Against the War will hold an open planning meeting this Thursday, June 19, 7:00 PM at the home of David McWhirter

(1708 Amber Ridge Drive, in the Emerald Forest neighborhood in College Station).

The agenda for the meeting includes: discussion of possible actions for the summer and fall; the possibility of an event highlighting the impact of the war on local veterans and their families; website ideas and maintenance; and any and all ideas for future Coalition activities.

Please contact David at mcwhirterdavid@yahoo.com if you need more detailed directions or a ride to the meeting.





Remember Erma Jefferson letters to daughter...

...Ella Foster at ella_foster2001@yahoo.com





Executive Meeting

June 23
Bryan Library
6:30 p.m.
Get Out the Vote Planning





DISGUSTING!!! >From the DMN

While a number of speakers -- such as Railroad Commission chairman Michael Williams and Mike Huckabee -- have praised the advance of Barack Obama and what it means towards a colorblind society, at least one vendor hasn't gotten the message.

At the Republican state convention, a booth hosted by Republicanmarket was selling a pin Saturday that says: If Obama is President will we still call it the White House.

There were other pins that weren't necessarily conveying the positive, inclusive, united front that has been portrayed during the convention. One said, "Press 1 for English. Press 2 for Deportation" and another, "I will hold my nose when I vote for McCain"





Letter to the editor needed...

...Chet voted in favor of the impeachment bill... It is not Chet who has done ta bad thing it is Bush. Let’s stay focused on that...





Juneteenth

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, is the name given to emancipation day by African-Americans in Texas. On that day in 1865 Union Major General Gordon Granger read General Order #3 to the people of Galveston. General Order #3 stated "The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere."

Large celebrations on June 19 began in 1866 and continued regularly into the early 20th century. The African-Americans treated this day like the Fourth of July and the celebrations contained similar events. In the early days, the celebration included a prayer service, speakers with inspirational messages, reading of the emancipation proclamation, stories from former slaves, food, red soda water, games, rodeos and dances.

The celebration of June 19 as emancipation day spread from Texas to the neighboring states of Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma. It has also appeared in Alabama, Florida, and California as African-American Texans migrated.

In many parts of Texas, ex-slaves purchased land, or "emancipation grounds," for the Juneteenth gathering. Examples include: Emancipation Park in Houston, purchased in 1872; what is now Booker T. Washington Park in Mexia; and Emancipation park in East Austin.

Celebration of Juneteenth declined during World War II but revived in 1950 at the Texas State Fair Grounds in Dallas. Interest and participation fell away during the late 1950's and 1960's as attention focused on expansion of freedom for African-Americans. In the 1970's Juneteenth revived in some communities. For example, in Austin the Juneteenth celebration returned in 1976 after a 25 year hiatus. House Bill no.1016 passed in the 66th legislature, regular session, declared June 19, "Emancipation Day in Texas," a legal state holiday effective January 1, 1980. Since that time, the celebration of Juneteenth continues across the state of Texas with parades, picnics and dancing.

Texas State Library Reference Services 3/95





Brazos County Democratic Party
P.O. Box 4568
Bryan Texas 77805
979-779-5600 Fax 979-779-5601

America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.
Harry S. Truman, Democrat, President of the United States of America