(C) Minnesota Reformer
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Lawmakers celebrate Minnesota’s first year recognizing Juneteenth as a state holiday [1]
['Michelle Griffith', 'More From Author', '- June']
Date: 2023-06
Minnesota legislators and Black community leaders had planned to throw a Juneteenth jubilee in front of the Capitol on Thursday — which included a Black business marketplace and family festival — but officials canceled it due to poor air quality caused by Canadian wildfire smoke.
But the smoke was not enough to damper enthusiasm in anticipation of Minnesota recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday for the first time in state history.
Earlier this legislative session, lawmakers passed and Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill declaring June 19, or Juneteenth, a state holiday — meaning state offices will close.
The day is meant to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved Black people after the Civil War. On June 19, 1865 — about two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect — Union forces arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform the 250,000 still-enslaved African Americans of their freedom.
President Joe Biden in 2021 signed legislation recognizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, which is now often celebrated with festivals, barbecues and parades.
“While we reflect on the deep pain inflicted by slavery and segregation, we also are presented with an opportunity to contemplate the possibilities of a shared future,” said Senate President Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis, the Senate’s lead author of the bill. “This new state holiday is an accomplishment by and for Black Minnesotans and all Minnesotans, and it is a moment that we can all celebrate together.”
The Minnesota Legislature for years has proposed a Juneteenth holiday, but this is the first year a bill has had strong bipartisan support. It passed 126-1 in the House and 57-8 in the Senate, with the only nay votes coming from Republicans.
Rep. Ruth Richardson, DFL-Mendota Heights, said she was a descendant of enslaved people and emphasized the importance of learning about the nation’s history, even if it’s painful.
“Celebrating Juneteenth is an expression of a more inclusive freedom that we’ve known before as a state,” said Richardson, who was the lead author of the House bill recognizing Juneteenth. “The fact that it took several sessions and the fact that it wasn’t unanimous is a testament to the work we still have to do.”
When asked why officials thought it took Minnesota so long to recognize Juneteenth, Walz said he believed it was due to a lack of education.
“I think we just didn’t tell our history well enough,” Walz said. “I think a lot of it, like so many things … (was) just out of pure ignorance of it. That’s why you have to teach the history.”
The legislators encouraged Minnesotans to celebrate Juneteenth by attending community events and said people shouldn’t be afraid to celebrate with their neighbors.
“I just want to encourage us not to just sit at home — don’t be afraid,” Champion said. “It’s OK to come and learn and grow together.”
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[1] Url:
https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/lawmakers-celebrate-minnesotas-first-year-recognizing-juneteenth-as-a-state-holiday/
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