ORLANDO, Fla. – A group of mostly African American historians met outside of Orlando City Hall on Thursday to recognize May 20 as Florida’s Emancipation Day.
In Florida, the date was May 20, 1865 when Union Brigadier Gen. Edward McCook formally announced President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation from the steps of the Knott House in Tallahassee.
That’s when slavery became illegal in the state. It’s earlier than the Juneteenth date in which slaves in Texas were informed on June 19, 1865, that they were free. [TRENDING: Ana, is that you? | Teacher accused of distributing child porn | Fla.
couple lured, tortured bears] Historians on Thursday dressed as members of the Third United States Colored Calvary, a regiment of the U.S.