Overview

• Banks, the US Postal Service and major stock markets were closed nationwide Thursday in recognition of Juneteenth.
• Communities held parades, festivals and educational programs to mark the 1865 enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, Texas.
• Corporate sponsors and local authorities withdrew support for some celebrations following new limits on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, forcing scaled-back or canceled events in cities from Denver to Indianapolis and West Virginia.
• Commentators warn that growing commercialization and corporate branding of Juneteenth risks diluting its historical significance as a symbol of delayed justice.
• Advocates say the holiday’s status as the newest federal observance underscores its importance as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial equity and justice.