When did Juneteenth become a federal holiday?

19 June, known as Juneteenth, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all people held as slaves should be free, was signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1963. However, it wasn’t until 19 June, 1965 that slaves in bondage in Galveston, Texas were freed.

Juneteenth has always been celebrated in many Texas communities and spread to neighboring states of Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma. It also appeared in Alabama, Florida and California when African American Texans migrated to other parts of the country. It has been a legal state holiday in Texas since 1980.

Bill passed by the House and signed by President Biden

In June 2021 a resolution to “recognize the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day to the Nation” sailed through Congress, passing by unanimous consent on 15 June. A day later, the House passed the legislation in a 415-14 vote, with only Republicans voting against it. The following day, 17 June 2021, it was signed into law by President Joe Biden, establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday - the 12th in the United States.

South Dakota became the last state to make 19 June a legal holiday in February of 2022. As for most of the rest of the country, all federal government offices, courts, banks, post offices, schools, and financial markets will be closed. Many private employers are following suit, although they are not legally required to give employees time off.