Dream make Juneteenth paid company holiday

Juneteenth has been designated by the Atlanta Dream as a paid company holiday for all employees, the WNBA franchise announced Tuesday.

June 19 is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War and slavery had ended.

“This universal acknowledgement of ‘Juneteenth’ is long overdue, especially here in Atlanta,” Dream President and General Manager Chris Sienko said in a statement released by the team. “As a first mover in the WNBA, it is our obligation to recognize the sanctity and significance of this day for our diverse community.”