Juneteenth

Excerpt from a June 19 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

Image from Atlanta Intown Paper

The history of Juneteenth:

On June 19th, 1865, two years 6 months and 18 days after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation into law, Union troops rode into Galveston, Texas to inform the last enslaved African Americans in the United States of their freedom. Juneteenth commemorates the official end of slavery in America and although it has been recognized as an official state holiday since 1980, due to the current focus on racial injustice in America, it is now receiving wide spread acknowledgement as a paid holiday for many large corporations. Across the country, many communities celebrate freedom on both Juneteenth (June 19th) as well as January 1st, in honor of the Emancipation Proclamation.

"Juneteenth is a time to recommit ourselves to the work that remains undone. We remember that even in the darkest hours, there is cause to hope for tomorrow's light. Today, no matter our race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, we recommit ourselves to working to free modern-day slaves around the world and to honoring in our time the efforts of those who fought so hard to steer our country truer to our highest ideals." -President Barack Obama, 2016

Census & Juneteenth events:

The City of Minneapolis believes that our African American communities should be counted in the 2020 Census so that they receive the adequate political representation as well as the proper resources to meet their needs. The census will have a presence at the following events commemorating Juneteenth in Minneapolis:

• Friday June 19^th – Unite & Rebuild www.uniteandrebuildmsp.org, 3pm-8pm, 2500 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406

• Friday June 19^th  -  Community Festival and Rally, 12pm-6pm, Cub Foods Parking lot 701 W Broadway Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411 

• Saturday June 20^th –The Staff of Freedom Works is hosting an event and BBQ, beginning at noon, located at the St Olaf Church downtown: 215 S 8^th St Minneapolis, MN 55402