Joseph P. Gresko

It was just four years ago during the 2022 legislative session when many House Democrats spoke passionately on the House floor about why Connecticut needed to make Juneteenth a legal state holiday. The legislation received bipartisan support and was signed into law by Governor Lamont, making this is the fourth year it will be officially observed as a state holiday. 

This historic day celebrates freedom while honoring the resilience, strength, and countless contributions of African Americans throughout our nation's history. It also serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing pursuit of equality, justice, and opportunity for all.

Contrary to popular belief, slavery did not immediately end after the conclusion of the Civil War. Some communities were not informed of the Union's victory until months later. On June 19, 1865, two months after the Civil War ended, a group of Union soldiers traveled to Galveston, Texas and announced that all enslaved individuals were now free. They were among the last group of Americans to be notified of their freedom.

Juneteenth officially became a federal holiday in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed into law the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. It was the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was enacted in 1983.

Learn more about the history of Juneteenth. 

Juneteenth is now rightfully recognized throughout the country not only as a day to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States, but as a time of reflection, progress, and the resilience and contributions of the Black community.