This has been a historical week and the history will continue this weekend in Emporia.
Thursday, US President Joe Biden signed legislation proclaiming Jun. 19, known as Juneteenth, a federal holiday. This comes just days before Emporia is set to host it’s first annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday.
The holiday marks the end of slavery in 1865. It’s a day African Americans have celebrated yearly since the Civil War era and the culmination of a decades-long effort by advocates to get national recognition for the momentous development in American history.
The local celebration is being organized by Don Carter, an Emporia native and Kansas City resident. Emporia Community Action member Sarah Bays, a guest of KVOE’s Talk of Emporia Wednesday, ran through the entire list of activities planned for Saturday.
On Wednesday, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly proclaimed Saturday as Juneteenth Day in Kansas.
You can find more information on the coming celebration by visiting the first annual Juneteenth celebration – Emporia Kansas Facebook page
4:44 pm Monday: Juneteenth now a federal holiday – Chuck Samples
Juneteenth is now a federal holiday after President Joe Biden signed legislation to that effect Thursday.
The holiday marks the end of slavery in 1865. It’s a day African Americans have celebrated yearly since the Civil War-era and the culmination of a decades-long effort by advocates to get national recognition for the momentous development in American history. At Thursday’s signing ceremony, Biden called the day one of “profound weight and profound power.”
“A day in which we remember the moral stain that the terrible toll that slavery took on the country and continues to take, what I have long called America’s original sin,” he said. “By making Juneteenth a federal holiday, all Americans can feel the power of this day and learn from our history and celebrate progress and grapple with the distance we’ve come but the distance we have to travel.”
Juneteenth, held annually on June 19, notes the day when African American slaves in Galveston, Texas, were told they were freed That notification came better than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation took effect and was two months after the Civil War officially ended.
This means there are 12 federal holidays on the calendar. The last one was Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, which was designated in 1983. Because June 19 is this upcoming Saturday, federal employees will observe it Friday.
On Wednesday, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly officially proclaimed Saturday as Juneteenth Day in the state. She called the day a chance to make Kansas a better place for everybody.
“Today’s proclamation – and the spirit of Juneteenth – serve as a reminder that, while we have come a long way in our efforts to promote equity and justice, there is work left to do,” she said.
Emporia will have its first Juneteenth celebration Saturday, with a range of activities at Eastside Community Park, including history discussions, live music and barbecue. The event goes from 11 am to 5:30 pm.
ABC News information was used in this report.
