LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, is getting a lot more recognition from leaders across the country than in years past as protests push against inequality.
Thursday, Governor Beshear signed a proclamation recognizing Juneteenth in Kentucky. Right now, it is a symbolic holiday, but the legislature can make it official if it’s introduced and passed in the next general assembly.
“We’re going to start our efforts to get [Juneteenth] addressed as a state holiday,” Beshear said. “We hope this time next year it will be one of our official state holidays.”
Senate majority and minority leadership have announced their support for the bill that will designate the date as a state holiday.
“Juneteenth underscores the continuing struggle to eliminate racial injustices in our society,” said Senator Gerald Neal. “The Kentucky Senate is obligated to adopt policies to eradicate these disparities.”
Beshear signified to Kentucky that now is the time to work towards recognizing what he calls a dark chapter in our history.
“Kentuckians must continue to work towards a more equitable and just commonwealth while recognizing the horrors of slavery and its legacy,” the proclamation said, in part.
During a panel discussion on Juneteenth, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer also announced Juneteenth will be designated as a city holiday starting in 2021.
The holiday dates back to when the news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached slaves on June 19, 1865. But only Texas, the state where Juneteenth originated, designated it as an official government holiday until this week.
“Juneteenth shows the resilience of our people and the final freedom of our people,” Lamont Collins said.
Collins is the founder and CEO of Roots 101, the new African-American museum in Louisville. Collins said he was glad Beshear announced recognition of the holiday, but says it takes more than recognition to make change.
“That’s a great beginning, but for African Americans to reach the goal we need, it has to be economic impact, it has to be educational improvement, health care improvement, it can be more than just signing a holiday,” Collins said.
To Collins, Juneteenth means becoming a better ancestor and talking about the wounds of the past.
“It’s a call to the community to come together, to heal together,” Collins said. “But it’s also a call to deal with the issues we have in this community.”
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