The city of Doraville in DeKalb County has proclaimed this Friday, June 19, as “Juneteenth Freedom Day,” officials announced.
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The holiday dates back to June 19, 1865, when Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that enslaved people were free — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.
In a statement, Doraville officials noted Juneteenth is “the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery” in the country.
This year, Juneteenth has taken on greater significance, amid a national reckoning over race, racism and police violence. More corporations are treating June 19 as a company holiday this year. However, it has not been designated as a federal holiday, which would make it a paid day off for many American workers.
Several events are planned throughout Atlanta to celebrate Juneteenth this year.
