There will now be a floating holiday for Milwaukee County employees to celebrate Juneteenth.
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The holiday, which recognizes the day slaves in Texas were informed of the end of slavery, is recognized and celebrated in various ways in most states in the U.S.
CBS 58 reported that Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson made the announcement Monday.
"Beginning this year, Milwaukee County will officially recognize this important day in American history," Crowley said in a statement. "Juneteenth is a day to celebrate the rich history and culture of the African American community. It is also a day to appreciate the long struggle for civil rights that Black people in America have faced for centuries. I am hopeful that our employees will be able to take June 19 as a day 'on' not a day off in order to fully support Black lives, liberation, and the vision of Milwaukee County to achieve racial equity and become the healthiest county in Wisconsin."
“As America begins, again, to open our hearts and minds to fully accept and seek to redress centuries of oppression and systemic racism, Milwaukee County is taking a step forward to formally acknowledge and celebrate Black Independence Day and all that it symbolizes,” Nicholson said in a statement.
Milwaukee has one of the longest-running Juneteenth Day celebrations in the country. Milwaukee’s Juneteenth Celebration began in 1971. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Milwaukee’s Juneteenth Day Parade and Street Festival have been canceled for this year.
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