Several cities across the U.S. have canceled Juneteenth celebrations this year, citing a range of concerns from logistical challenges to safety and the evolving political climate.
Why It Matters
Juneteenth, observed on June 19 , marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in the United States were informed of their freedom — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
In 2021, President Joe Biden signed bipartisan legislation passed by Congress designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday. The move followed a nationwide reckoning on racial justice sparked by the murder of George Floyd by police in the summer of 2020.
Juneteenth organizers have provided different reasons for cancelling events this year. Though President Donald Trump ‘s administration is not directly connected to the cancelations, some organizers said they were cancelling events due to the political climate since Trump’s return to office…