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Alyssa Meinecke, Director of Communications, Program & Strategy

On June 19, 1865, federal troops in Galveston, Texas, announced that enslaved people were freed after the Civil War. While the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863, enslaved people in Texas were not informed of their freedom until two years later. That’s why Juneteenth has come to be known as Emancipation Day and continues to be celebrated each year as a reminder of freedom and community.

Juneteenth is a celebration of emancipation, but we still have a long way to go in the fight for racial justice. This holiday provides a great opportunity to support the Black-led organizations throughout the state who work hard to uplift Wisconsin’s Black communities:

Juneteenth Events