Last year, President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making Juneteenth a federal holiday. In California last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation declaring June 19 as “Juneteenth National Freedom Day: A Day of Observance.” However, California has yet to make it a state holiday where state workers are able to take a new paid day off. State employees may take the day off on June 19 instead of using their annual personal holiday on another day.
Juneteenth commemorates when the last enslaved African Americans were freed on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth marks this milestone in American history and its celebration has spread beyond its origin in Texas, hence becoming a federal holiday in 2021.
Despite the ongoing efforts to make June 19 a state holiday, there are still various ways to celebrate this national holiday.