Juneteenth

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

Juneteenth

WHEREAS, on January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring the end of slavery in the United States with the following words-all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and

WHEREAS, President Lincoln rightly held that slavery was fundamentally inconsistent with the principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence; and

WHEREAS, on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, bearing news that the Civil War had ended and that all enslaved persons were now free; and

WHEREAS, the following year, the first official Juneteenth celebrations were held in Texas and have continued across the United States-making Juneteenth the oldest nationally recognized commemoration of the end of slavery; and

WHEREAS, Juneteenth celebrations are observed annually throughout the Commonwealth and the nation and often include readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, cultural performances, community service activities, and other meaningful commemorations; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth officially established Juneteenth as a holiday in 2020-affirming the importance of commemorating freedom, acknowledging our shared history, and honoring the enduring contributions of African Americans; and

WHEREAS, after decades of advocacy by Opal Lee, the grandmother of Juneteenth, President Joe Biden signed Senate Bill S. 475 on June 17, 2021, making Juneteenth the eleventh federal holiday; and

WHEREAS, Virginians are encouraged to participate in community activities that honor the contributions and achievements of African Americans, while continuing to learn about and reflect upon the rich history, enduring resilience, and lasting impact of African Americans throughout our Commonwealth and nation; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth remains steadfast in its commitment to honoring and celebrating the contributions of African Americans and fostering an environment in which diversity is recognized, valued, and celebrated;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Abigail D. Spanberger, Governor, do hereby recognize June 19, 2026, as JUNETEENTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.