The St. Louis Park City Council passed a proclamation at its June 15 meeting observing Juneteenth 2026. Juneteenth is a federal holiday recognizing the day, June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger led some 2,000 Union troops, many of whom were Black, into Galveston Bay, where they announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in Texas were free by executive decree. Though the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863, marking freedom from chattel slavery across the United States, slavery continued in parts of the country.

Juneteenth celebrates the day freedom reached all parts of the country and has continued to be observed in Black American communities through community gatherings, church events, music, and shared meals. Juneteenth became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, the newest federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was signed into law in 1983.

In recognition of Juneteenth, the City of St. Louis Park invites you to:

• Learn about the history of Juneteenth
  • Juneteenth - Minnesota Humanities Center (mnhum.org)
  •  Juneteenth – Minnesota Historical Society
  •  Juneteenth | National Museum of African American History and Culture (si.edu)

• The St. Louis Park Community Education and Parks & Recreation are hosting a series of Juneteenth events to celebrate freedom, resilience and cultural heritage:
  • Juneteenth Celebration – Westopolis

 Proclamation

The proclamation reads:

Whereas, Juneteenth has been observed by Black Americans as the day when word of the Emancipation Proclamation granting freedom from slavery finally reached Galveston Bay, Texas on June 19, 1865 - two years after it was written into law by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863; and

Whereas, Juneteenth marks the beginning of freedom from chattel slavery, opening possibilities for generations of Black people in the United States; and

Whereas, Juneteenth is commemorated as “Freedom Day”, celebrating the countless efforts made by abolitionists, both enslaved and free, in the fight for freedom from white slaveowners; and

Whereas, Black Americans continue to make significant contributions to Minnesota’s culture, economy, education, health, housing and government; and

Whereas, challenging anti-Black racism and recognizing the ways Black Americans have historically faced legalized discrimination in our country honors the legacy of Juneteenth and contributes to our strategic priority of being an inclusive, equitable and vibrant city; and

Whereas, observing Juneteenth as a city holiday in the City of St. Louis Park is a significant step in understanding the painful legacy of slavery and the history of anti-Black discrimination after slavery was abolished, which continues to have impacts on our society to this day; and

Whereas, the City of St. Louis Park’s inaugural Juneteenth observance was celebrated in 2022. The annual celebrations continue and in 2026, the celebration of the Juneteenth Series is in partnership with St. Louis Park Community Education,

Now therefore, let it be known that the mayor and city council of the City of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, hereby observe Juneteenth 2026 in our community.