Chester County Officially Declares Juneteenth A Holiday

WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County has declared Juneteenth, to be celebrated Friday, June 19, as an official holiday celebrating the abolishment of slavery in the United States. The move comes as counties and states issue similar proclamations nationwide.

Local officials cited the recent racial justice protests in the wake of the death of George Floyd as evidence for the importance of recognizing the holiday.

"We recognize the importance of taking this day to reflect on the historical and current struggles of our black neighbors and friends," Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell said in a statement. "It is important to remember that freedom was not won by all with the Emancipation Proclamation, but on June 19, 1865 when the last of the slaves learned of the end of the Civil War. Recognizing this critical day in our history is a small step in moving forward together."

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African Americans that the Civil War was over and slavery had been abolished.

While symbolically important, this did not end slavery in the United States. That did not occur until the passage of the 13th Amendment several months later, that Dec. 1865.

However, Juneteenth, which has been recognized in some form for 155 years, is the "oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States," according to Juneteenth.com.

On Friday, President Donald Trump said he was moving the date of his campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from June 19 to June 20 out of respect for the Juneteenth holiday.