The town of Hartford, Vermont will recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday, reports WCAX.
Juneteenth is a celebration of the date June 19, 1865, on which slavery was abolished in Texas when Union general Gordon Granger read federal orders in Galveston that stated that all previously enslaved people in the state were now free. Although the Emancipation Proclamation had formally freed slaves over two years earlier, Texas was a largely remote slave state, so enforcement of proclamation was inconsistent and slow to reach the area.
The town will celebrate the event, also known as Juneteenth Freedom Day, with activities on the third week of June in order to “show solidarity and stand with our black, indigenous and communities of color.”
At 6 PM on June 19th, there will be a reading of the Proclamation, guest speakers, and music at Lyman Park.
WNTK Local News 