Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist proclaimed June 19 as Juneteenth Celebration Day in Michigan Wednesday.
Whitmer last year signed into law a declaration officially designating Juneteenth as a state holiday. Speaking on social media Wednesday, Whitmer and Gilchrist urged all to learn something this Juneteenth.
“On Juneteenth, Americans come together to celebrate values we all hold dear. Freedom, equality, and opportunity,” Whitmer said.
“These values are embodied by the black community, whose story is an inextricable part of the American story,” Gilchrist said.
“Today we celebrate African-American history, culture, and commemorate the end of slavery in America. Today we celebrate African-American history, culture, and commemorate the end of slavery in America,” Whitmer said.
Whitmer says she is proud that we have declared Juneteenth a state holiday in Michigan, and she’s grateful to President Biden for making it a federal holiday for all Americans.
Juneteenth officially celebrates the end of slavery in the United States.
Whitmer said the day should be used to reflect on our history and renew a commitment to building a state in which every Michigander can thrive.
