FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has signed a proclamation recognizing Juneteenth and says he will encourage lawmakers to pass a bill next year to recognize it as a state holiday.
Juneteenth commemorates when the last enslaved African Americans learned they were free 155 years ago.
Beshear says it's important to remind people that the impacts of slavery continue to linger and celebrate “that at least portions of that dark chapter ended.”
The small Kentucky city of Midway made Juneteenth an official holiday on Wednesday.
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.