Waltham To Recognize 'Juneteenth Day' For Second Year

WALTHAM, MA —Mayor Jeannette McCarthy proclaimed Saturday, June 19 as "Juneteenth Day" in the City of Waltham, for the second year for the city. The day, which is a portmanteau of June 19 has been set aside to celebrate the end of slavery in America stretching back to its founding in 1865.

Waltham city offices will be closed Friday, June 18 in recognition of the day.

The holiday has taken on a new meaning with racial justice rallies, marches and protests sparked by the deaths of black people at the hands of police across the country.

Juneteenth celebrates the day in 1865 that Union troops rode into Galveston, Texas, and announced that the Civil War had ended and President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation — two years after he signed it.

There are celebrations in Massachusetts — including at the Boston African American National Historical Site —this year, with many mixing in themes from recent demonstrations.

In 2019 the US Senate passed a resolution recognizing "Juneteenth Independence Day" as a national holiday. Then in July 2020 Gov. Charlie Baker signed a house bill officially recognizing Juneteenth as an annual state holiday.

Massachusetts is behind some other states: Texas began made it a state holiday in 1980. A number of other states followed suit either observing the day in some fashion or making it an official holiday.

Twitter, Nike, the National Football League, Vox and other major businesses all recognized Juneteenth as a paid company holiday last year.

Also read:

• Waltham Police Department Amends Use Of Force Policy
• Waltham Committee Supports Black Lives Matter Resolution

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).Have a press release you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how to post a press release, a column, event or opinion piece.