Juneteenth Senate Bill Passed

On Tuesday, the United States Senate passed a bill to establish Juneteenth as a national holiday. Juneteenth or Freedom Day, which is celebrated on June 19, marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to ensure that all enslaved people be freed - marking the ending of slavery in the United States. It is important to note that this was two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

The holiday commemorates African American freedom and is oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery. It is a time for reflecting and educating ourselves on the past as well as assessing and planning for the future. This legislation is an important milestone in the holiday's 156-year history and another reason to celebrate. Before becoming an official federal holiday, the bill must still be approved by the House of Representatives and signed by the President.

The holiday is marked with celebrations, parades, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings across the country. Here in State College, a commemoration will take place on Saturday, June 19, 2021, at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza in downtown State College from 1 pm to 2:30 pm. The festivities will include free food, live music, song, dance, poetry, and spoken word, followed by the screening of a documentary film and discussion at 3 pm at 3 DOTS Downtown.  

To learn more about the holiday, visit juneteenth.com.