Juneteenth Commemorates the Emancipation of Black Labor

On June 19, 1865, Union Army General Gordon Granger issued a proclamation in Galveston, which ordered the freedom of more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state of Texas. Juneteenth, which is a federal holiday as of 2021 and a wage replacement day in Local 3’s contract as of 2022, commemorates this occasion and celebrates African-American history.

This year, the federal holiday will be observed on Monday, June 20. Events have already begun to honor the Juneteenth tradition. On Saturday, June 11, the White Plains community hosted its 18th annual Juneteenth Parade and Festival, joined by members of Local 3 North (Westchester/Fairfield).