Juneteenth The Oldest Nationally Celebrated Commemoration Of The End Of Slavery In The United States Will Be Celebrated As A State Holiday In California For The First Time This June

Governor Newsom Proclaims Juneteenth as State Holiday

Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, will be celebrated as a state holiday in California for the first time this June.

Governor Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation today declaring Juneteenth, which falls on June 19, a state holiday.

The proclamation was signed by Governor Newsom in the presence of state legislators, civil rights leaders, and community members at the California African American Museum in Los Angeles.

"Juneteenth is a day to celebrate the end of slavery and the resilience of the African American community," said Governor Newsom. "It is a day to reflect on our history and to recommit ourselves to the fight for racial justice."

Juneteenth commemorates the day, June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that the enslaved people of the state were free. The news came more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln.

Juneteenth is now celebrated in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In California, the state legislature passed a bill in 2021 to make Juneteenth a state holiday. The bill was signed into law by Governor Newsom in September 2021.

The state's first Juneteenth celebration will be held on June 19, 2022. The celebration will include a variety of events, including parades, festivals, and educational programs.