Juneteenth Event Planned Friday In Vienna

VIENNA, VA — First Baptist Church of Vienna is hosting a Juneteenth Rally of Remembrance at 6 p.m. Friday.

The rally will include prayer and protest in the parking lot of First Baptist Church of Vienna, 450 Orchard St NW, Vienna. Attendees are encouraged to bring signs and wear face masks.

Confirmed participants include: Sen. Mark Warner, Rep. Gerry Connolly. Virginia Del. Mark Keam, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw, Town of Vienna Mayor Laurie DiRocco, Town of Vienna Mayor-Elect Linda Colbert, Vienna Town Council Members Howard Springsteen and Douglas Noble, Fairfax County School Board representatives Karl Frisch, Rachna Sizemore Heizer, and Melanie Meren, and Fairfax County Chief Equity Officer Karla Bruce.

Juneteenth refers to June 19, 1865, the end of slavery in the United States. That date is when Union soldiers arrived at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and slaves were free.

On Tuesday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said he is proposing legislation to make Juneteenth a state holiday and will give executive branch employees a paid day off. Fairfax County government announced Thursday it will observe the June 19 holiday and close the county's administrative offices. Various companies and Fairfax County Public Schools will also observe it as a staff holiday.