Roland Lemar

Thursday, June 19 is Juneteenth, which celebrates the end of slavery in our country. For many years, this important holiday was primarily celebrated in the South. However, thanks to great advocacy work, it is now rightfully observed throughout the country, including Connecticut. In 2022, the Connecticut General Assembly voted to make Juneteenth a state holiday.

The Emancipation Proclamation did not end the practice of slavery in America. It also did not end at the conclusion of the Civil War. On June 19, 1865, 2 months after the Civil War ended, a group of Union soldiers traveled to Galveston, Texas and announced that all enslaved people were now free. They were among the last group of Americans to be notified of their freedom.

Although Juneteenth celebrates a momentous event in our history, we must also take time to reflect on the horrors of slavery and its lingering effects on our society. As your state representative, I will continue to push for legislation that will make Connecticut a better state for all. If you have any questions about Juneteenth, its history, and how it has been celebrated around the country, please check out this page from the National Museum of African American History and Culture.