Community Corner
Historic Moment: Juneteenth Flag Soars High Over Illinois State Capitol For The First Time
"This is a significant moment in our country and state's history," said Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.
June 19, 2021
At sunrise, a flag that represents a new horizon and freedom is flying high above the Illinois State Capitol building.
For the first time in state history, the Juneteenth flag was raised over the building Saturday and it will remain in the air throughout the weekend. On June 19. 1865, slaves in Galveston, Texas learned they had been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation two years prior.
“This is a significant moment in our country and state’s history,” said Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. “I am proud to witness it and that my office had a role in this event.”
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The Juneteenth flag was raised over the State Capitol building for the first time ever on Saturday morning.
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White
The Land of Lincoln made Juneteenth an official state holiday on Wednesday. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the bill near a rare copy of the Emancipation Proclamation.
"It is our privilege as Illinoisans to house this great document and it is our sacred responsibility to keep its moral compass alive in our own times, especially as we become a leader in the nation in the depth of our recognition of this new Juneteenth state holiday,” Pritzker said at the signing.
To learn more about the origin and the history behind the holiday, click here.