Join us for fun, food, music, and reflection on why we celebrate Juneteenth!
Date: Wednesday, June 12
Time: noon – 3 p.m.
Location: Gengras Student Union Lawn and Hawk Lounge
The event is free, but registration is required. Register here for this exciting event!
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring a formal end to slavery in the United States. However, change was not instant. Nearly two and a half years later, on June 19, 1865, enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, received the news from Union army troops that freedom had finally come.
The following year, the people of Galveston commemorated that day as Juneteenth, a celebration of freedom. Since then, it has been observed in communities and states as a holiday, and in 2021, it was officially recognized as a federal holiday.
Co-Sponsors: The Office of Student Engagement and Inclusion, the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, and the Office for Diversity and Community Engagement.