Juneteenth Becomes Federal Holiday
Yesterday, President Biden signed legislation establishing June 19, “Juneteenth”, as a federal holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the end of legal slavery in the United States and has been celebrated annually in various parts of the country since 1865. The holiday also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day and Emancipation Day was first celebrated in Texas when Major General Gordon Granger landed in Galveston and shared the news that the Civil War had ended two and a half years earlier and that the enslaved people were declared free under the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation.
We celebrate and embrace this decision, the first federal holiday added since 1983 when Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was officially recognized.
Many federal offices are closed today in honor of Juneteenth because it falls on a Saturday this year. While our District will remain open today, the Chancellor will engage the Board in discussions about our options for recognizing the holiday and reviewing our options related to our District and academic calendars, including the process for including our constituency groups and labor partners in the discussion.
This will be included as a discussion item for the Board at the July 6 meeting. We will share more information as these discussions take place.
We encourage employees to engage in the various Juneteenth celebrations happening in our communities this weekend.
Juneteenth Day Celebration
Saturday, June 19, 9 a.m.
Courthouse Park
210 W Yosemite Ave
Madera, CAJubilee: A Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 19, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Regional Sports Complex
1707 W Jenson Ave
Fresno, CA
In addition, Madera Community College’s Paul Torres interviewed Councilwoman Anita Evans about her personal story and the significance of this day. Councilwoman Evans is the first African American female City Council member in Madera. Watch interview.
Also, Omne Network will air a Virtual 2021 California Juneteenth-Celebrating Black Excellence Beginning June 19 – July 10.
For mobile devices only go here: www.myonmetv.com - June 19; 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
On TV in the Central Valley: CMAC TV channels - June 19; 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
(Comcast Channel 93; AT & T Channel 99).
