Happy Juneteenth – America’s newest federal holiday!
Juneteenth, short for “June Nineteenth,” marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday.
This week, Congress approved a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday and yesterday, it was signed into law by President Biden.
The City of Lynwood has commemorated Juneteenth for many years. And at this week, the Lynwood City Council presented a proclamation to longtime resident and Juneteenth organizer Percy Brown in honor of the new holiday.
If you want to read more history about Juneteenth, visit: https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/historical-legacy-juneteenth