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Charlottesville City Council moves to cease celebration of Jefferson's birthday,...
It's getting to be like Berkeley, but with Vineyard Vines.
NEWS
Charlottesville City Council moves to cease celebration of Jefferson’s birthday, establishes Liberation and Freedom Day in its place
The City will no longer celebrate Jefferson’s birthday as an official holiday
By Caroline Meyer | 07/23/2019
Charlottesville City Council recently voted to no longer celebrate Thomas Jefferson’s birthday as an official holiday. The celebration of his birthday on April 13 will be replaced with another holiday known as Liberation and Freedom Day, which will take place March 3.
Previously, in the celebration of his birthday — Founder’s Day — the University would plant a tree to honor a member of the community who made a long-term contribution. However, the University does not observe Founder’s Day as an official holiday. Additionally, University officials attend a formal dinner and luncheon with the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, awarding recipients of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medals in Architecture, Law, Citizen Leadership and Global Innovation.
Mayor Nikuyah Walker initially proposed Liberation and Freedom Day replace Jefferson’s birthday June 3. Liberation and Freedom Day will commemorate March 3, 1865 — the day Union Army forces arrived in Charlottesville at the end of the Civil War. Union troops met with city officials near the Rotunda to signal an end of the war and slavery. The holiday will reflect on the emancipation of the over 14,000 slaves in Charlottesville. ... An official declaration of the change was made by Charlottesville City Manager Tarron Richardson July 3.
The decision to nix Jefferson’s birthday as an official holiday came about with increasing discussions on the history of slavery and discrimination in the country. Jefferson’s legacy as both the founder of U.Va. and a slave owner are large components of these discussions at the University. With the exception of Kathy Galvin, all council members voted to eliminate the holiday. Council member Wes Bellamy expressed support for Walker’s proposal when she made it.
....
Charlottesville City Council moves to cease celebration of Jefferson’s birthday, establishes Liberation and Freedom Day in its place
The City will no longer celebrate Jefferson’s birthday as an official holiday
By Caroline Meyer | 07/23/2019
Charlottesville City Council recently voted to no longer celebrate Thomas Jefferson’s birthday as an official holiday. The celebration of his birthday on April 13 will be replaced with another holiday known as Liberation and Freedom Day, which will take place March 3.
Previously, in the celebration of his birthday — Founder’s Day — the University would plant a tree to honor a member of the community who made a long-term contribution. However, the University does not observe Founder’s Day as an official holiday. Additionally, University officials attend a formal dinner and luncheon with the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, awarding recipients of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medals in Architecture, Law, Citizen Leadership and Global Innovation.
Mayor Nikuyah Walker initially proposed Liberation and Freedom Day replace Jefferson’s birthday June 3. Liberation and Freedom Day will commemorate March 3, 1865 — the day Union Army forces arrived in Charlottesville at the end of the Civil War. Union troops met with city officials near the Rotunda to signal an end of the war and slavery. The holiday will reflect on the emancipation of the over 14,000 slaves in Charlottesville. ... An official declaration of the change was made by Charlottesville City Manager Tarron Richardson July 3.
The decision to nix Jefferson’s birthday as an official holiday came about with increasing discussions on the history of slavery and discrimination in the country. Jefferson’s legacy as both the founder of U.Va. and a slave owner are large components of these discussions at the University. With the exception of Kathy Galvin, all council members voted to eliminate the holiday. Council member Wes Bellamy expressed support for Walker’s proposal when she made it.
....
