Nation Marks Juneteenth with Celebrations and Reflection
Communities across the U.S. are celebrating Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Marked by parades, concerts, and cultural events, the day honors June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the emancipation of enslaved people—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. President Biden, who signed the holiday into law in 2021, called Juneteenth “a day of profound weight and hope.” Americans nationwide are reflecting on the legacy of slavery and ongoing struggles for racial justice.
