A Juneteenth message from Alachua County Commissioner Charles Chestnut IV
Press release from Alachua County
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Alachua County Commissioner Charles “Chuck” Chestnut IV released the following statement today:
Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. This date in 1865 marks when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that the Civil War had ended and all enslaved people were free, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Juneteenth holds profound importance as a symbol of freedom and the end of slavery. It recognizes the delayed liberation of enslaved individuals and the resilience of African Americans who continued to strive for equality. The day serves as a reminder of the systemic injustices and the ongoing struggle for civil rights and social justice. It provides an opportunity to honor the contributions and culture of African Americans, reflecting on their history and achievements in this country.
The celebration of Juneteenth fosters education and awareness about the dark chapters of American history while promoting unity and healing. It underscores the significance of freedom and equality, encouraging dialogue about racial issues and inspiring collective efforts toward a more inclusive society. By acknowledging Juneteenth, Americans affirm their commitment to justice and the continuous journey toward true equality for all.
Having never heard Chuck Chestnut speak with even the remotest amount of eloquence, my AI sniffer was signaling something. So I strolled over to ChatGPT and typed in a few simple prompts about Juneteenth. Surprise! The results from ChatGPT come back with a very similar narrative and outline as this “statement”, including very similar placement of certain keywords. I typed in a few more prompts and it kept developing different results that were extremely similar to this “statement”.
Wouldn’t have been too hard for him to just come up with an original statement?
All the Chestnut clan is good for is feeding off the public teat.
Well written.
He’s ignorant of what the Emancipation Proclamation stated–it didn’t free “all enslaved people,” just those in the confederate states. Juneteenth is about as meaningful as Kwanzaa. For those of a more serious bent, June 19 can be celebrated as the day on which the Rosenberg a-bomb spies were executed.
Or the date of the first Garfield comic strip in 1978
The kooky right wing fascist republican conservatives would bring slavery back if they had their way. You disgust me.
You’re a knucklehead Paulie. The only people who keep people enslaved are those who have something to gain. Best look at City Commissioners.
I celebrate the achievements of all citizens. But in particular, I celebrate the ability of minority citizens to rise above bad democratic union controlled public schools, corrosive affirmative action schemes that denigrate their achievements, Great Society multi-generational family destruction and incompetently run democratic cities that celebrate criminality more than the law abiding innocent citizens they are sworn to protect.
The Republicans under Abraham Lincoln is the party that freed the slaves.
And the loony left wing bigots make up things about people who DARE to have an opinion different than their own.
You earned that award again. You are getting pretty good at being discumbolated.
We detest you as well! It was left wing scum that were for slavery! All one has to do is look into Harry Reid, slo biden, etc!
And now Chestnut, how about some solutions on Black-on-Black crime. Oh yes just place them all-in low-income housing. Which turn into breeding grounds for single moms. Strict housing regulations should be enforced in these areas. Hire and pay for good security. Sad to say but you and your mother are elected for only one reason.
We don’t have a whole lot of African Americans in the US. Unless you were a citizen or resident from a country in Africa that immigrated here, you are actually just an American or Native (born) American. When is your ethnic group (all over the world) going to stop depending on and being controlled by government handouts? When are you going to join society instead of demanding special treatment?
Mr. Chestnut, why does one group need a special day, their own Christmas, their own history month, their own “national” anthem?
The Grinch doesn’t like to share?
All I could think of.
Chuck decides to continue the divisive narrative that still plagues this country. One would have thought by now that he would have learned if you stop scratching, it’ll stop itching. Many in the Democrat party just don’t want to let it go, and some in the Republican party will never admit others aren’t inferior just because of their color. In some ways, people aren’t only bound by societal chains, they’re also bound by their feelings toward others.
I wonder if he only promoted individuals by the color of their skin who were lynched being recognized in the new admin building memorial or if he felt others who were lynched weren’t worthy of mention. Maybe he just doesn’t want to acknowledge lynchings weren’t exclusive to one group. The lynchings that occurred to all Americans were horrendous and shows the depth of the evils that lies within humankind. I was disappointed to see the display that once presented historical documents for all Americans were removed to instead focus on the crimes that were committed by some against others. Horrible crimes, but later generations aren’t guilty just because of their color as the display implies.
If you listen to this commissioner and others, if you’re white, you’re guilty of systemic racism. Last I checked, one ethnicity doesn’t hold a monopoly towards racially insensitive comments and crimes against others. Reread his letter, “This date in 1865 marks when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that the Civil War had ended and all enslaved people were free, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation.” “The day serves as a reminder of the systemic injustices and the ongoing struggle for civil rights and social justice.” “By acknowledging Juneteenth, Americans affirm their commitment to justice and the continuous journey toward true equality for all.” One day he’s speaking for equality and the next he’s demanding equity. Which is it?
I’m not saying to forget slavery and the atrocities that were committed, I’m saying it’s past time to stop blaming people of the present for the crimes of the past.
I’ve never owned a slave, my parents didn’t, and neither did my grandparents.
Time to stop scratching and continuing to blame others.
Well said!
The way he wrote is something that he would copy from ChatGPT 100%. This should be deemed illegal for a city commissioner. He needs to craft his own statement.
Juneteenth is a more than worthy day for national celebration as the Emancipation Proclamation freed about 3.5 million slaves before the war ended, many of whom joined the Union Army, and caused many slave holders to abandon their plantations in fear as their region fell to Union control. All of those things shortened the war effort to defeat the secessionists which led to freeing all the slaves, including the smaller numbers in border states.
As to comments here, it’s amazing that someone implies present day blacks should be loyal to the Republican party and Lincoln, while at the same time denigrating the Emancipation Proclamation. Say what?
Well, blacks in America were loyal until the Republican party left them to become the party full of people like the regulars commenters here – blatant racists who think all blacks who achieve anything are cheating and who belittle one of Lincoln’s most important acts, the Emancipation Proclamation. Blacks aren’t stupid and they know who their friends and enemies are. The former are mostly democrats who’s party is heavily influenced by black office holders who help run it and their enemies are people like those filling up the comments section here.
Money buys friends, a lot of money buys a lot of influence.
I didn’t see where anyone implied all blacks are stupid. Definitely not the way you implied Republicans are blatant racists who think all blacks who achieve anything are cheating.
Someone one told me that eventually a person’s character will show their true colors. You may want to take a step back or maybe a day to cool off, your’s are starting to run.
Pos Robert Byrd a leftist was a klan member.
POS leftist Harry Reid made negative remarks about Obama wing elected due to certain traits
Pos46 made negative remarks about his future boss.
POS leftist lbj made negative remarks about buy the vote of people of color for years!
You leftists are pathetic!
Discumbolated Joe is doing a awesome job at pushing the Black and Hispanic communities to the Republican side. Wasn’t it Joe that said by not voting for him you aren’t black? Ow many PROVEN lies has he told about his support of civil rights? Wasn’t it Dr Jill great taco insult towards Hispanics? Did Obama (first black president) through his eight years ever to to promote Juneteenth to make it a federal holiday or even speak about it? Even Jesse Jackson praised DJT several years ago for his support of black workers. I think the Democrats are doing a great job of pushing away votes.