Most Juneteenth proclamations pass without debate. This one didn’t.

The Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners approved its Juneteenth proclamation at the Regular Meeting held on Monday, June 15, 2026 in a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Larry Pittman casting the lone dissenting vote. The split drew an unusual level of public attention and a wave of media coverage in the days since.

Today, June 19, the country marks Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Here’s what happened Monday night, what was said, and where things stand.

What Is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day Union forces arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced to enslaved people there that they were free, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863.

Because the Emancipation Proclamation applied only to Confederate states and could not be enforced without Union military presence, the news of freedom spread slowly. Galveston was one of the last places to receive word.

Juneteenth has been recognized as a federal holiday since 2021.

The Vote and Commissioner Pittman’s Dissent

During Monday’s meeting, the Board voted 4-1 to approve the Juneteenth proclamation. Commissioner Larry Pittman cast the lone “no” vote, citing what he described as a historical inaccuracy in what the holiday commemorates.

Pittman argued that enslaved people were not fully freed nationwide under law until the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was officially proclaimed on December 18, 1865 — five months after the events in Galveston.

“If you want to celebrate the slaves being set free, I want to celebrate with you,” Pittman said during the meeting, “but get the right date.”

His argument drew pushback from residents in attendance. After one speaker said that voting against the proclamation amounted to denying American history, Pittman responded: “It’s not true American history.”

The four commissioners who voted in favor, Chair Laura Lindsey and Commissioners Kenny Wortman, Ian Patrick, and Jeff Jones, did not publicly respond to Pittman’s historical argument during the meeting.

You can view Commissioner Pittman’s comments starting at the 1:41:30 mark in Monday night’s meeting video below.

The Historical Context of Both Dates

Both the date Juneteenth commemorates and the date Commissioner Pittman referenced are grounded in documented history:

  • June 19, 1865: Union forces in Galveston, Texas, announce the freedom of enslaved people. This is the date recognized by the federal government as Juneteenth and widely understood as the moment freedom became real for the last enslaved Americans under Confederate control.
  • December 6, 1865: The 13th Amendment is ratified by the required number of states, legally abolishing slavery throughout the United States. It was officially certified and proclaimed on December 18, 1865.

What distinguishes the two dates is the difference between the practical enforcement of freedom and the formal legal abolition of slavery. Juneteenth has historically been recognized as the former, the moment the news of freedom finally reached those still held in bondage.

Statement from the Four Other Commissioners

Following the meeting, the four commissioners who voted in favor released the following joint statement:

“During Monday night’s Regular Meeting, the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution recognizing June 19 as Juneteenth. This approval showed majority support for celebrations of the holiday locally and across the country.

As stated in the proclamation, the majority of the Board recognizes that the day ‘represents the effective end of chattel slavery in the United States and symbolizes the triumph of freedom, justice, and the American ideal that all men are created equal.’

In addition to Juneteenth, the Board believes in recognizing the many celebrations that commemorate freedom in the United States.

Any comment about the dissenting vote on the proclamation should come from the individual who cast that vote.”

Media Coverage

Commissioner Pittman’s comments have drawn attention from media outlets across North Carolina this week. This is not the first time Pittman’s remarks have attracted media attention; they have generated both local and national coverage on previous occasions.

For context on Commissioner Pittman’s broader record, including his past statements and tenure in the North Carolina General Assembly, additional background is available via the links below.

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