Whitmer signs proclamation declaring June 19 as Juneteenth Celebration Day

LANSING, Mich.—Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday signed a proclamation to declare June 19 as Juneteenth Celebration Day in Michigan.

Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when slavery was abolished in the United States.

“Juneteenth is a crucial day in our nation’s history to remember how far we have come and recognize how far we still have to go,” said Governor Whitmer said in a press release. “During a time when communities of color are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, and when the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery have shone a light on the systemic racism Black Americans face every day, we must work together to build a more equitable and just Michigan. I’m proud to declare June 19, 2020 as Juneteenth Celebration Day, and will continue to work tirelessly to create a state that is equal for all.”