At its meeting on June 7, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners voted to designate Juneteenth, which is the oldest national commemoration of the end of slavery, as a county holiday in 2022. The county will observe Monday, June 20, as the Juneteenth holiday, and all county offices will be closed on that day.
“Holidays have meaning and purpose,” Board Chairman David T. Woodward (D-Royal Oak) said. “We encourage county employees and residents to observe Juneteenth to reflect on our history, and together commit to a better future for everyone by
addressing racial injustice in America.”
With the adopted resolution, the Board and County Executive recognize the significance of Juneteenth and support June 19, 1865, as a monumental date in United States history. On that date, Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger landed at Galveston, Texas, and received news that the Civil War had ended, and enslaved people were then free. In 1979, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday.
"Juneteenth isn’t just Black history,” Commissioner Angela Powell (D-Pontiac) said. “Slavery ended on this day, which is a very important moment for the Black community, and I’m proud that the Board and county administration have taken action to acknowledge this.”
On June 1, the Michigan Supreme Court issued an order stating that June 19 become a recognized court holiday and ordered all courts in the State of Michigan be closed on Monday, June 20. President Joe Biden signed a bill in 2021 designating Juneteenth as a national holiday.
For more information about the Board of Commissioners, visit www.oakgov.com/boc.
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