Overview

• Federal offices, post offices, banks and the New York Stock Exchange are closed Thursday in observance of Juneteenth.
• The holiday commemorates Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger’s June 19, 1865 order in Galveston, Texas, announcing freedom for the last group of enslaved Americans.
• Juneteenth became the nation’s 11th federal holiday in 2021 and now guarantees paid leave for most federal employees.
• Cities and community organizations across the U.S. are hosting parades, festivals, concerts, church services and educational sessions.
• Leaders and activists say Juneteenth remains a vital platform for acknowledging slavery’s legacy and advancing racial equality today.