June 20th, 2023 by WCBC Radio

Governor Wes Moore today proclaimed and celebrated June 19, 2023, as Juneteenth in Maryland. Juneteenth is a celebration to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. On June 17, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

“Juneteenth offers us all a moment to consider how far we have come as a nation and how much work is still left to be done,” said Gov. Moore. “Learning about our past helps us to know our own power. Hold close the stories of those who came before and celebrate the resilience that will propel us forward for generations to come.”

Though the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect at the beginning of 1863, many enslaved people did not gain freedom until much later. On June 19th, 1865, Union soldiers traveled to Galveston, Texas, to liberate those who were still enslaved. Newly freed African Americans rejoiced and their celebrations started the tradition that is now known as Juneteenth. In 2021, Juneteenth became the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 

On Saturday, Governor Moore and First Lady Dawn Moore attended the 46th annual AFRAM Festival at Druid Hill Park in Baltimore. In honor of Juneteenth, the celebration of culture, music, art, business, and fashion is one of the largest African American festivals on the East Coast.