Juneteenth Celebration Planned At Greenwich Town Hall

GREENWICH, CT — A celebration commemorating Juneteenth will be held at Greenwich Town Hall on Monday.

First Selectman Fred Camillo will be joined by several other elected officials as well as the First Selectman's First Selectman’s Diversity Advisory Committee at noon outside of town hall to recognize the significance of the holiday. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved inside.

Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021. For the first time in history this year, Connecticut will observe Juneteenth as a legal state holiday.

The day marks the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in Texas on June 19, 1865, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation.

Union Army General Gordon Granger delivered the news to those still enslaved in Galveston, Texas, that they were free.

Greenwich officially observed Juneteenth for the first time with a ceremony in 2022.

Greenwich Town Hall will be open for normal business hours on Monday.