Juneteenth: Historical event celebrates freedom, equal rights & end of slavery
On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden made Juneteenth an annual federal holiday, the first new federal holiday in decades.
June 19 celebrates an important event in American history. Juneteenth, also referred to as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is an annual occasion that celebrates freedom and equal rights. Juneteenth is observed in many American states and is considered a holiday for some state employees. In 2020, then Sen. Kamala Harris introduced a bill to make Juneteenth a national holiday. She said,
"Juneteenth is a day to remember the millions who died from enslavement in America, and those who survived and fought to end it. And it needs to be a national holiday."
Despite the fact the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, some people were still living as slaves in Texas. On June 19, 1865, U.S. Army General Gordon Granger and Union soldiers arrived in Galveston and announced the end of the Civil War. They also read the order that all remaining slaves in Texas were freed – finally ending slavery in the United States.
Today, Juneteenth is celebrated with various get-togethers, parties and celebrations across the nation.
June 19 is also National Martini Day and World Sauntering Day.