CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVVA) – Governor Patrick Morrisey says state employees will not have a paid day off for this Thursday’s holiday.
Juneteenth is a federal and state holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, the day that enslaved people in Texas were finally ordered to be freed through the Emancipation Proclamation.
The holiday’s roots date back as early as 1866 and gained momentum throughout the Black community over the years. By 1979 every state formally recognized the holiday to some capacity. It became a federal holiday in 2021.
In 2024 then Governor Jim Justice made Juneteenth an official state holiday, permitting employees the day off. Morrisey has cited financial reasons for not making his predecessor’s action a tradition.
With West Virginia Day following Juneteenth, state employees would have had a 4 day weekend.
Morrisey does intend to recognize the holiday with a formal proclamation.
The ACLU-WV has expressed disappointment in Morrisey’s decision.
Bluefield will be recognizing the holiday on its official day with a free screening of a movie at the historic Granada Theater alongside a festival on Saturday.
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