Albuquerque celebrates Juneteenth a little early

Juneteenth gets an early celebration in Albuquerque

Now a federal holiday, June 19, 1865, was when the last slaves were freed

Updated: 6:18 PM MDT Jun 14, 2025

While millions were busy demonstrating Saturday, others were at Civic Plaza celebrating an important day in American history. Juneteenth is a federal holiday officially on Thursday, June 19, commemorating the day in 1865 when emancipation was finally announced to slaves in Galveston, Texas, the last place to get word of President Lincoln’s proclamation two years earlier.”I think it’s absolutely important, because I believe that history should never be erased,” said Siloise Binikiseh, who was at the Civic Plaza with her family. “So, celebrating Juneteenth is teaching the younger generation, but more so celebrating their roots.””It just means the world to me,” said Arthur Bell, who also had been at previous celebrations of Juneteenth. “We’re a melting pot in Albuquerque, so seeing all the different light skins and dark skins, and just people from every side of Albuquerque come together and celebrate the same thing, which is Juneteenth and black excellence. It’s heartwarming, to say the least.”

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

While millions were busy demonstrating Saturday, others were at Civic Plaza celebrating an important day in American history.

Juneteenth is a federal holiday officially on Thursday, June 19, commemorating the day in 1865 when emancipation was finally announced to slaves in Galveston, Texas, the last place to get word of President Lincoln’s proclamation two years earlier.

“I think it’s absolutely important, because I believe that history should never be erased,” said Siloise Binikiseh, who was at the Civic Plaza with her family. “So, celebrating Juneteenth is teaching the younger generation, but more so celebrating their roots.”

“It just means the world to me,” said Arthur Bell, who also had been at previous celebrations of Juneteenth. “We’re a melting pot in Albuquerque, so seeing all the different light skins and dark skins, and just people from every side of Albuquerque come together and celebrate the same thing, which is Juneteenth and black excellence. It’s heartwarming, to say the least.”