Bailey & Glasser Statement on Juneteenth
Bailey & Glasser, LLP, has announced the closure of its offices tomorrow (Friday, June 19) in celebration of Juneteenth.
On June 19, 1865, Union Army soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas. They were carrying news that the US Civil War was over and that the enslaved of Galveston were to be set free. This occurred more than two years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free." Enslavers throughout the south didn’t recognize the Emancipation Proclamation until Union Army soldiers came to enforce the order.
155 years later, Juneteenth is celebrated by Americans as a symbolic milestone celebrating freedom, love, and unity. Juneteenth honors the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. This year the holiday has a special significance after the death of George Floyd, and the demonstrations and conversations that followed. These events highlighted deep seated, long-term inequities, and provided an important opportunity to reflect on how much work is left to be done to combat the racism that underlies these inequities. We at Bailey & Glasser are fully committed to that effort.
To learn more about the history of Juneteenth and its relevance today visit:
- https://www.juneteenth.com
- https://www.nytimes.com/article/juneteenth-day-celebration.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article
And here is list of some celebrations around the country: