Should Lakeland recognize Juneteenth as a city holiday in 2024? Some argue it's overdue
LAKELAND — Amid the long holiday week of Thanksgiving, Lakeland officials were asked to add another holiday to their 2024 list.
Harlem Turner, president of the Rose Heights Elks Lodge, requested that the City Commission recognize Juneteenth as an official city holiday. This would close down City Hall, giving many employees the day off and allowing them to join in community celebrations.
"We celebrate July 4th, Independence Day, if you will," said Doris Moore Bailey, a longtime organizer of Lakeland's Juneteenth Celebration. "In 1776, my ancestors and the likes were not free. They were still enslaved. it was not until June 18, 1865."
Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19, is day to honor and celebrate the day nearly a quarter of a million enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed they were free and slavery was over in the United States.
Bailey, who serves regional director for Juneteenth celebrations in Florida and four other states, said there's been an organized celebration in Lakeland since 1992. She said these events, from rodeos to community gatherings, have attracted thousands of visitors to the city.
"How long must we wait before we get a request for Juneteenth to become a city employee paid holiday?" she asked commissioners.
The city has 10 paid holidays a year, which include:
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day, July 4
Labor Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Friday, or Black Friday
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
In addition to these 10 days, Sherrouse said the city's general employees receive a floating holiday each year, bringing the total to 11 paid holidays. City employees are allowed to choose what date they take off as a chosen holiday.
Commissioner Mike Musick questioned how many Lakeland employees have used their floating holiday to take off Juneteenth in prior years.
Who recognizes Juneteenth as an official holiday?
Lakeland city staff conducted a survey of 33 agencies, including other counties along the I-4 corridor and cities with similar size population, to determine what was most common practice for recognized holidays. Sherrouse said the survey showed the number of official holidays ranged from eight to 14 days per year.
The survey showed all agencies recognized New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, Sherrouse said. The majority of those surveyed, or 28 organizations, observed Veterans Day each November.
Some of the holidays that were officially recognized by agencies included Presidents Day, Good Friday and Election Day. Other organizations chose even more abnormal celebrations, including State Primary Day and Strawberry Festival Day.
Sherrouse said he estimated Lakeland's closure on Juneteenth would cost taxpayers $127,000, based on the average spent in overtime pay and other costs on three existing city holidays. He did not specify which dates were used in his calculation.
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Commissioner Sam Simmons asked whether Lakeland has ever surveyed its employees about what, if any, additional holidays they would like to see recognized. Sherrouse said the city had not to his knowledge, but could do so.
There are at least five Polk County municipalities that officially recognized Juneteenth in 2023: Bartow, Dundee, Haines City, Lake Alfred and Winter Haven. Several of the major cities across Florida including, Orlando, Winter Park and Jacksonville, close their city offices to celebrate, reports the Orlando Sentinel.
Juneteenth was first recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, signed into law by President Joe Biden. All three of Polk County's U.S. House members voted in favor of the federal legislative bill. Florida has recognized Juneteenth, but does not observe it as a state holiday. Several legislative bills have been filed in the past three years, but not approved.
What's next?
Musick asked his fellow commissioners to further discuss Juneteenth and whether it should be celebrated as a city holiday at a future agenda study. The commission regularly holds these Friday workshops to have more lengthy discussion of various topics.
Lakeland's Black leaders said they will continue to push for the city to recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday. Turner said even a recent incident of a noose being hung outside his Elks Lodge, will not deter him.
"It won’t stop me from fighting for what’s right. This is right." Turner said. "I'll be back."
Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland asked to add Juneteenth to city's 2024 holiday list
