Latest news with #13thAmendment
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
The 13th Amendment: Sold for $12 million
NEW YORK — A crowd, most of them employees with ID badges around their necks, gathered in the back of the room of Sotheby's for the last two items of Thursday's morning auction. They weren't there to see icy jewels or buzzy art being sold to the cocktail crowd. This was history. Important history. 'The 13th Amendment,' the auctioneer announced. 'Signed by Abraham Lincoln and the majority of senators and congressmen who supported this landmark legislation abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude within the United States.' The bidding opened at $8 million. It was preceded by bidding on a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, also signed by Lincoln. This was a highlight of Book Week at Sotheby's. Nerd paradise. It's the kind of thing that draws a small crowd of brainy lookie-loos with canvas totes and book dealers in tweed and seersucker to see and maybe bid on first edition Shakespeares, Galileos, Cervantes, Darwin and Adam Smith. And on Americana. This wasn't a swank auction with mysterious bidders, champagne and women in fabulous hats. Most of the bidding happened online or over the phones, with staff on risers flanking the auctioneer's podium. The auction was divided into two parts. Those participating in person raised paddles to place their bids. The only paddle that kept going up was #939, held by a man in a buzz cut, black sneakers, work-from-home clothes and a Nike Air backpack. He dropped around $800,000. 'We got the Darwin, Josephus, Audubon aaaand the Galileo,' said Callum Hill, 27, a cataloger for Peter Harrington, antiquarian book sellers from London. Landmark moments in human history were dispatched across the globe to anonymous sellers. 'The first of two Shakespeare folios,' the auctioneer announced. 'We have $95,000.' 'Bidder on the phone with $100,000.' 'Sold.' On to Portugal in 1519: Vasco da Gama's citation from the King of Portugal for his discoveries complete with a royal wax seal. The bidding went up to $120,000. 'Anything further from online? Or the phones? Otherwise, fair warning. $120,000,' the auctioneer said. 'Sold.' Finally, the premium items came up: Lots 26 and 27. There was James Monroe's letter authorizing the $2 million down payment on the Louisiana Purchase. Previously unknown to Monroe scholars, the four-page letter written in August 1803 was a hedge against Napoleon reneging on the deal. It was a basically handshake deal until Congress moved to ratify it. 'It ought not to be suspected that we are trifling with the Go[vernmen]t of France, or gaining time by an idle correspondence,' Monroe wrote, offering up all the cash that was at his disposal while he was posted in London. The letter sold for $127,000. Also up was the 1774 document establishing the Continental Association, which called for a trade ban between America and Great Britain. Some scholars argue that the Articles of Association document, an agreement among all the colonies to refuse trade relations with England, is the original founding document, merely a precursor to the Declaration of Independence. 'For many Americans the decision to accept the recommendations of Congress and endorse the Continental Association proved to be the point of no return,' historian David Ammerman wrote in his 1974 book, 'In the common cause: American response to the Coercive acts of 1774.' The browned broadside with fold marks is 'one of the most important documents of American colonial history,' Ammerman said. It sold for just over $1 million. Sotheby's is protecting the identity of the buyers who dropped millions on those documents, which are seismically important to United States history. Sotheby's had an unusual offering — both the signed Emancipation Proclamation and the resulting 13th Amendment, signed by Congress on Jan. 31, 1865. 'I never in my life, felt more certain that I was doing right than I do in signing this paper,' Lincoln said after signing the Emancipation Proclamation into law on Jan. 1, 1863. The proclamation that Sotheby's auctioned on Thursday was part of a Civil War fundraiser. One of Lincoln's favorite charities in D.C. was the United States Sanitary Commission, established in June 1861 to assist sick and wounded Union soldiers and their dependent families. It ran on contributions, and Lincoln often donated an autograph to sell at one of their fundraising fairs. For the 1864 Grand Fair, Lincoln signed dozens of the proclamations, and they sold for $10 each, according to Sotheby's. 'One of 27 surviving copies,' the auctioneer said. Eighteen of them are in collections at institutions. The auction opened at $2 million, then quickly went to to $3 million. The rivals were a mystery bidder and a woman in a burgundy dress with a paddle. Then it went to $3.5 million. 'A bidder at 3.6. And the room bidder is out,' the auctioneer said. The 13th Amendment came up. Bidding opened at $8 million. Back and forth, until it got to $12 million. 'It's $12 million on the phone,' the auctioneer said. 'Anyone watching online?' 'Here in the room?' 'It's on the phone. And will sell,' he said, scanning the room one last time. No movement. No paddles. 'At $12 million.' Polite applause. 'This one was special,' a Sotheby's employee said as she left. Lincoln signed an unknown number of commemorative copies of the Emancipation Proclamation. Historians know of 15 bearing Lincoln's signature, Sotheby's said, and more than a dozen additional exist that are signed by members of Congress, but not Lincoln. There is an empty space for his signature. He never lived to see it ratified.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pritzker, Welch celebrate Juneteenth at Hillside Memorial Park District
HILLSIDE, Ill. (WGN) — From the city to the suburbs, Juneteenth celebrations are happening all across Chicagoland. In the western suburbs, Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois Speaker of the House Emanuel 'Chris' Welch joined local families at Hillside Memorial Park District for Welch's fourth annual Juneteenth celebration held at the park. Pritzker: 'Abraham Lincoln is the one who signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Our greatest president. What state was he from?' Crowd: 'Illinois!' Pritzker: 'Alright. What was the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment, ending slavery?' Crowd: 'Illinois!' The event featured activities for the entire family, from a performance by the Jesse White Tumblers, to a litany of local food and art vendors for attendees to peruse, and free haircuts from James Blakes the Mobile Barber. Juneteenth celebrates and honors African Americans' journey to freedom in the United States. On June 19, 1865, word finally reached the last enslaved African Americans in Texas that their emancipation was made formal, which officially brought an end to slavery nationwide. 'I just think it's really important that we keep this going and keep growing all of the traditions that we have for this,' Blakes said. 'And Juneteenth, it needs to be cherished. You know, it's a very important thing for the African American community.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
News18
20-06-2025
- General
- News18
What Is Juneteenth And Why Is Donald Trump Not Celebrating It This Year?
Last Updated: Juneteenth is a day that marks the end of slavery in the United States. While the United States observes Juneteenth 2025 on June 19, President Donald Trump has maintained an indifferent silence on the federal holiday this year. Trump, who honoured the day every year in his previous term as President, in fact said the US has 'too many working holidays, costing the country billions of dollars" even as he didn't mention Juneteenth in his post directly. Juneteenth is a day that marks the end of slavery in the United States. The day is observed with parades, educational events, community gatherings, and moments of remembrance across the US. What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth is observed on June 19 every year. The day marks the end of slavery in the United States. The name is a combination of 'June" and 'nineteenth." On this day in 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that all enslaved people were free, in line with President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued over two years earlier, on January 1, 1863. Texas was one of the last Confederate states where slavery remained in practice, as Union forces had not yet taken control. When Granger issued General Order No. 3, it finally brought the message of freedom to more than 250,000 enslaved people in Texas. This moment came to symbolise the final end of slavery, even though it would take the 13th Amendment, passed later that year, to abolish slavery nationwide. Over time, Juneteenth grew from local celebrations in Texas to a nationwide event. It is observed with cultural events, music, food, and historical reflections. In 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday, underscoring its importance as a day of freedom, remembrance, and a continued call for equality and justice. How Did Juneteenth Become A Federal Holiday? Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, but the journey to the day's national recognition was long and hard-fought. For decades, African American communities across the US celebrated Juneteenth locally, especially in Texas where it was first officially recognised as a state holiday in 1980. However, efforts to make it a national holiday gained momentum following the racial justice protests of 2020 after the killing of George Floyd. Activists, lawmakers, and community leaders renewed calls for federal recognition, highlighting the importance of honouring the end of slavery as a key moment in American history. One prominent voice in the movement was Opal Lee, a lifelong activist from Texas, who, walked from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C. at 89, to campaign for Juneteenth's recognition. Her dedication and the growing national awareness around systemic racism helped push Congress to act. In June 2021, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act passed swiftly with overwhelming bipartisan support, and President Joe Biden signed it into law on June 17, 2021. The move marked a historic step in acknowledging the legacy of slavery and the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America. Why Is Trump Not Celebrating Juneteenth This Year? This year, Trump did not issue any public statement or proclamation marking Juneteenth, a shift from his first term, when he routinely acknowledged the holiday. He, in fact, criticised 'too many non-working holidays" on his social media website Truth Social. 'Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed,"" Trump wrote. 'The workers don't want it either! Soon we'll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN," the US President added. Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed. The workers don't want it either! Soon we'll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE…— Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) June 19, 2025 In January 2025, Trump had also signed an executive order dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs across federal agencies. This was interpreted as a move to scale back observance planning for cultural and remembrance days like Juneteenth. First Published: News explainers What Is Juneteenth And Why Is Donald Trump Not Celebrating It This Year?
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio lawmakers are trying once again to remove slavery from state's constitution
Juneteenth flag. (Getty images) Ohio Democratic lawmakers want to eradicate slavery from the Ohio Constitution. State Reps. Dontavius Jarrells, D-Columbus, and Veronica Sims, D-Akron, are working on a joint resolution that would remove slavery from the state's foundational document. 'This isn't political,' Jarrells said Wednesday during an Ohio Legislative Black Caucus press conference. 'This isn't personal. This is a moral overdue journey to change our constitution once and for all. Other states have already done it. We simply want Ohio to live up to this promise of freedom.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for being convicted of a crime. The Ohio Constitution currently says 'There shall be no slavery in this state; nor involuntary servitude, unless for the punishment of crime.' Seven states have removed the slavery loophole from their constitution — Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Utah, Colorado, and Nebraska, according to the Abolish Slavery National Network. 'I submit that slavery and or involuntary servitude in any shape, form or fashion, should be disembodied from the sacred pages of the founding document of our great state,' Sims said. 'It is time to remove any exception under any circumstances, slavery is a vile, despicable imposition upon another human being.' This is not the first time there have been legislative attempts in Ohio to remove slavery from the state's constitution. Jarrells had a bipartisan joint resolution that was unable to get out of committee during the last General Assembly. A Senate Joint Resolution was also unsuccessful back in 2020. If the House and Senate pass the new joint resolution, it would go to the statewide ballot for the voters to decide. Wednesday's press conference was hosted by members of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus in honor of Juneteenth, a federal holiday Thursday remembering the end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865 — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. 'Juneteenth signifies the end of slavery, and it's a time to celebrate,' said State Rep. Terrence Upchurch, D-Cleveland. 'Although we are proud of the progress we have made, that does not negate the fact that there are still several challenges Black Ohioans face across the state. People are still struggling with finding housing, healthy foods, good paying jobs, satisfactory education, fair treatment in the justice system, and so much more.' Jarrells introduced House Bill 306 last month, also known as the Enact the Hate Crime Act. 'It empowers victims with real civil remedies and gives law enforcement clear, enforceable tools to hold perpetrators accountable,' he said. 'This bill says that every single person in this state deserves to live without fear, and if you are targeted for who you are, this state will stand with you.' State Rep. Darnell T. Brewer, D-Cleveland, talked about recent gun legislation he is working on. 'Gun violence is devastating our communities,' he said. 'We can no longer afford to be silent or inactive.' Black youth are 11 times more likely to die from firearm homicide than their white peers, according to Brady: United Against Gun Violence. Brewer said he plans on introducing a resolution to encourage responsible gun ownership by promoting safe storage practices to prevent children from accessing guns and a resolution on safe firearm storage education. 'Gun violence is not just an emergency,' he said. 'It's a daily reality.' Infant mortality, when a child dies before their first birthday, is higher for Black babies compared to white babies. The national infant mortality rate is 5.5 per 1,000 live births for babies and 10.9 for Black babies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The infant mortality rate for Ohio Black babies in 2022 was 13.4 per 1,000 live births. 'Why do we stop caring about babies after they're born?' State Rep. Derrick Hall, D-Akron, asked. State Rep. Ismail Mohamed, D-Columbus, talked about House Bill 281, a bill that would withhold Medicaid funding from hospitals that do not cooperate with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. State Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania Twp., introduced the bill last month. 'What this bill does is essentially force medical providers to choose between honoring your oath as medical providers or complying with the state's political agenda,' Mohamed said. 'It will discourage immigrant communities from seeking life saving treatment care out of fear.' Mohamed also talked about House Bill 1, a piece of legislation that would place restrictions on foreign ownership of land. State Reps. Angie King, R-Celina, and Roy Klopfenstein, R-Haviland, introduced the bill earlier this year. 'It is arbitrary,' Mohamed said. 'It is discriminatory in its face, and will negatively impact economic development in the state of Ohio.' Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Newsweek
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
ACLU: After 160 Years of Waiting, Guaranteed Income Can Deliver on the Promise of Reparations
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. This year we celebrate the 160th anniversary of the message of freedom finally reaching the last parts of the former Confederacy. For two years, news of the Emancipation Proclamation was kept from enslaved people across the South, until Major General Gordon Granger made the long-overdue final enforcement of the decree in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. While many see Juneteenth as an opportunity to celebrate freedom, the truth is that slavery still exists today, in prisons around the country, due to the loophole in the 13th Amendment that permits enslavement as punishment for a crime. Small blue and red Juneteenth flag with a star and the date June 19, 1865, waving in the wind at a street vendor's stall in front of shops on 125th Street in Harlem, New York... Small blue and red Juneteenth flag with a star and the date June 19, 1865, waving in the wind at a street vendor's stall in front of shops on 125th Street in Harlem, New York else is the transformation of slavery to mass incarceration than in Louisiana. Louisiana State Penitentiary, known as Angola, sits on a former plantation. Incarcerated workers continue to work the fields, like enslaved people once did, for only two cents an hour. This food finds its way to consumers: if you've had a Big Mac or shopped at Walmart, you may have purchased produce harvested through Angola's captive labor force. The broken promise of "40 Acres and a Mule" demonstrates that reparations were never delivered to the formerly enslaved. Over one and a half centuries later, the descendants of freed enslaved people are still waiting. As they wait, they are continually subjugated by a system that traps them in a cycle of poverty, criminalization, and forced labor. Today, we have the opportunity to fully realize the promise of freedom symbolized by Juneteenth through guaranteed income programs—a bold step toward fair compensation in reparation efforts to those still suffering from the legacy of slavery. These programs aren't charity, but a chance to finally honor a commitment that should have been fulfilled generations ago. Guaranteed Income and Reparations Guaranteed income is a simple but powerful concept: unconditional, direct, and continuous cash payments delivered to residents. Disbursed without work requirements or restrictive conditions, guaranteed income operates as an investment in the agency of individuals. It has bipartisan and broad support: Americans of all political parties—Democrats, Republicans, and independents—approve of guaranteed income as a tool to eliminate poverty. Guaranteed income programs have gained significant traction in the United States, with 165 pilots as of 2025. These programs vary in scope, duration, and funding sources, but generally seek to provide financial stability and reduce poverty for targeted populations. Major pilot programs have been successful in places like Compton, Calif., Chicago, Ill., Gainesville, Fla., and elsewhere. Today, incorporating guaranteed income into reparations efforts is bolstered by a body of evidence supporting guaranteed income's unique ability to narrow the persistent racial wealth gap. Guaranteed income also leads to greater gender equity and long-term welfare by helping people afford job training, education, or childcare. The ACLU of Louisiana, in partnership with the Fund for Guaranteed Income and donors Buck and Gracie Close, implemented a guaranteed income pilot program as a form of reparations. This pilot was the first of its kind funded through voluntary reparations, in which oppressors' descendants choose to actively redistribute their wealth and power to the oppressed. The pilot transferred funds from the Close family—whose wealth was built from slavery—to recipients who suffer from the legacy of slavery through their involvement with the criminal legal system. This pilot was targeted at specific parishes within Louisiana known for their high rates of police misconduct, as the state itself is one of the highest incarcerators in the country. Program participants were all survivors of police brutality. After participating in the pilot, the participants' ability to pay all of their bills doubled. The ability to meet their medical needs—including prescriptions, refills, and doctors' visits—increased fourfold. By the end of the program, the average number of days without stable housing fell by 85 percent. Expanding Guaranteed Income Programs We should take these successes and push a broader conversation about the importance of repairing past harms through direct economic benefits. If we do nothing, incarceration will only increase, especially as we criminalize immigration, and the harms will further perpetuate. Guaranteed income offers an alternative that makes everyone safe by giving them a rightful share of the nation's collectively produced and inherited wealth. Like the last enslaved souls who waited far too long to hear the news of freedom, we too have been waiting—for justice, for reparations, for the truth of slavery's enduring legacy to be fully acknowledged. We are still waiting for the promise to be kept, for the next generation to finally have a chance to run a race where the hurdles aren't set impossibly high from the start. It's never too late to address a broken promise. Juneteenth reminds us that freedom and justice go hand in hand. And true justice requires true repair. Alanah Odoms is the executive director of ACLU of Louisiana. Nika Soon-Shiong is the executive director of the Fund For Guaranteed Income. The views expressed in this article are the writers' own.
