Juneteenth 2026

Justice and Peace Issues

Celebrate Juneteenth

Juneteenth, short for “June Nineteenth.” commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. On that day in 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce the end of slavery in the United State. His message came more than two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all enslaved people were to be freed. At its core, Juneteenth celebrates liberation from bondage and affirms the inherent dignity of every human being. It is considered the longest running African American holiday. This day is an opportunity for people to celebrate freedom and equal rights in the United States. Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official state holiday in 1980. By 2020, 47 states and Washington D.C. recognized Juneteenth in some form.On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, making Juneteenth the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established in 1983.Juneteenth invites us into the important work of communal remembrance. Throughout Scripture, God calls us to remember, not just the triumphs but also trials. Juneteenth is both a celebration and a lament: a celebration of freedom and a lament for justice delayed and the suffering that preceded it. Juneteenth invites communal remembering that is honest and oriented toward justice. It reminds us that the path to liberation includes acknowledging pain and confronting uncomfortable truths. By remembering the past and embracing its lessons, we can work toward a more just and compassionate future. May this Juneteenth inspire us to foster understanding through meaningful conversations about race, history and justice. Let us do all we can to bridge divides, strengthen our communities and build a future where dignity, equality and unity prevail.Here are some photos from early celebrations of Juneteenth:

1865 Celebration

19th Century Event -South Carolina

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