CABARRUS CO., N.C. – A Cabarrus County Commissioner is under fire for calling Juneteenth “a lie.” Larry Pittman made those comments at Monday night’s board meeting, to explain his opposition to a proclamation marking the federal holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the day slaves in Texas fou nd out they were free. In the meeting, Pittman argued slavery officially ended when the 13th Amendment was ratified in December 1865. Things also got tense when someone in the audience tried to interrupt him. Pittman says, “First of all, I want address this thing about Juneteenth. I don’t support it because it is based on a lie. People were not set free by the Emancipation Proclamation.” Pittman continues, “An elitist point of view forces (this) to be taught in schools and ignores the real truth of what happened… (unintelligible comment from audience)…hey, it is not your turn, sir!” The Juneteenth Proclamation passed by a four to one vote, with Pittman as the only no vote. ...read more read less