Jacksonville may be first U.S. city to make anniversary of 13th Amendment a city holiday
JACKSONVILLE, Onslow County — The City of Jacksonville will mark the anniversary of the passage of the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery and servitude in all forms with a holiday and an observance.
In observance of the Freedom Day, the city council passed a resolution naming the second Monday in December as a city holiday. It is believed Jacksonville is the first municipality in the U.S. to do so.
City officials say the 13th Amendment is the foundation of the fight against modern-day slavery in the form of human trafficking.
To mark the holiday, the Onslow Civic Affairs Committee will hold an observance at 6:00 p.m. on Monday in the city council chambers.
The date for the holiday was selected as falling between December 6, 1865, the date the 13th Amendment was ratified by the states, and December 18, 1865, the date the Proclamation of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was adopted.
The public is invited with special parking to be provided across the street and at City Hall during the ceremony.
Because City Hall offices will be closed, doors for the event will not open until 5:15 p.m.
The city’s sanitation schedule has been altered to move Monday and Tuesday normal pickups to the next day with no yard waste pick up during this week.
