Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons will observe Juneteenth on Friday

In a media conference Monday, Falcons head coach Dan Quinn said he will support the players who choose to protest during the upcoming season.
By
June 17, 2020

The Atlanta Falcons will make Juneteenth a paid holiday, according to the team.

Falcons employees will have Friday off.

June 19 marks the effective end of slavery in the United States. It 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.

Employees will have the day off to “learn, reflect and serve,” according to a team spokesman.

The NFL announced last week it will close its office Friday for Juneteenth. Nike also will observe Juneteeth as a paid holiday as will the NBA's Atlanta Hawks.

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Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.

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