Napa County Will Recognize Juneteenth As An Observed County Holiday

Press release from the Napa County Government:

April 19, 2022

NAPA, CA — The Napa County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to declare Juneteenth an official county holiday for the year 2022 and subsequent years.

Often referred to as our country’s second Independence Day, Juneteenth commemorates the date on June 19, 1865, when enslaved black people in the State of Texas finally learned of their emancipation.

Observing this day as an official County holiday provides an opportunity for all community members to reflect on the historical significance of Juneteenth and our continuing efforts as a community to advance equity and inclusion for all people.

In making the decision to add Juneteenth to the County’s fixed schedule of holidays, the Napa County Board of Supervisors took into consideration the interests of the public in having access to the services of the government and the value of honoring and recognizing dates of significance to our country, community, and workforce.

“We are sending a clear message that Napa County understands and values the meaning of Juneteenth,” said Ryan Gregory, Chair of the Napa County Board of Supervisors. “We hope that elevating this holiday for employees will allow those who are not familiar with it to learn more about Juneteenth and celebrate the significance of freedom for all.”

Because June 19 falls on a Sunday in 2022, this new paid holiday will be first honored by Napa County on June 20, a Monday. In 2021, Juneteenth was designated as a federal holiday. Napa County services available that day will follow a similar pattern to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day or Cesar Chavez Day.

This press release was produced by the Napa County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.