HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — People are coming together to raise awareness for an important historical holiday.
Lawmakers, local leaders, and state residents gathered in Harrisburg to celebrate Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the true ending of slavery in the United States.
On June 19, 1865, federal troops arrived in Texas to ensure all enslaved people had been freed, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed.
“Juneteenth HBG is a return of economic access, power, and opportunity to the Black community,” Dr. Kamika Campbell, the Vice President of Young Professionals of Color & Juneteenth Harrisburg Executive Chair, said. “Because we know our history, but what we want to do is connect that history to the present and the future so that we can all thrive.”
Black American communities have been celebrating Juneteenth for nearly 200 years, however it was not recognized as an official federal holiday until 2021.
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