Mayor Ezra Nanes issued a proclamation that recognizes June 19th, 2025 as Juneteenth Freedom Day.
The day marks the moment when Union troops entered Galveston, Texas, on June 19th, 1865 and freed the last African-American slaves following the end of the American Civil War. The day also commemorates the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by former President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.
“Juneteenth is a time to formally acknowledge the horrific oppression, brutality and injustice inflicted on African-Americans by the institution of slavery and the lasting damage it caused to our country’s culture, economy and politics,” Nanes said. “Juneteenth also reminds us of the extraordinary courage, strength, and resilience of Americans of African descent, and of the pride and beauty of African American culture, which continues to play a defining role in shaping American life.”
Nanes also said that Juneteenth was a time to “renew our commitment — with purpose and resolve — to confront the painful parts of our nation’s history, and in so doing, we strive to realize the noble ideals of its founding.”
Leslie Laing, an educational co-chair for the State College NAACP, thanked the borough for both the proclamation as well as its continued support of annual Juneteenth celebrations.
“Justice is not a destination; it’s the path we walk together in courage, empathy and persistence,” Laing said. “In the words of Coretta Scott King, ‘the struggle is a never ending process. Freedom is never really won. You earn it and win it in each generation.’”
MORE NEWS CONTENT
Check out was real simple, can't wait for the tote bag